Kids don’t see themselves in a good or bad way. They don’t think ‘I’m great!’ or ‘I am a loser’, instead, the people around them condition them accordingly and hence, they develop positive or negative notion about themselves.
Sometimes a kid would develop low self-esteem if the parents don’t encourage her/him enough or if there is a lot of yelling at home. Other times, a kid’s self-esteem can be hurt in the classroom too, when a teacher may make a kid feel dumb or when there’s a bully who says hurtful things.
Hence, here are a few suggestions for building self-esteem in your child:
1. Praise your child every now and then for the efforts rather than the outcome.
2. Redirect your child’s irrational perceptions of herself/himself.
3. Shower affections on your child by giving spontaneous hugs and encouraging notes.
4. Be truthful in your feedback but try to highlight the positive.
5. Persuade your child to participate in activities that require cooperation, rather than competition.
Healthy self-esteem is a child’s armor against the challenges of the world. Kids who feel good about themselves seem to have an easier time handling conflicts and resisting negative pressures. They tend to smile more readily and enjoy life. Hence, make your kids realists and optimists in life.
