Working On Me

Healthy self-esteem is a child’s shield against the challenges of the world. Kids who feel good about themselves seem to have an easier time handling conflicts and resisting negative peer pressure. They tend to be happier and centered in comparison to their peers. These children are generally optimistic about life and their future.

By contrast, some children have resorted to committing suicide over low self-esteem issues. In order for them to start building confidence in themselves, you’ll need to sit back and take a look at what you’re doing to encourage them in their lives.

Children need our guidance and nurturing. Some of the mistakes that parents make with their children, without even realizing it, are focusing too much on their child’s weaknesses and not enough on their strong points.

No child, or adult for that matter, is always self-confident – so there’s no need to constantly remind them of that every day. Children need to be taught right from wrong, but you shouldn’t harp on the fact that they never get anything right.

You’re there to help them realize their mistakes, help them to learn from them, and show them how to change paths and turn something from a negative into a positive. Focusing on the mistakes they make will only lower their self-esteem and make them feel like they can’t do anything right.

Some children only hear the negative things and nothing about the positive. Sometimes parents forget to praise their children for the good things they do. It’s those moments in a child’s life that allows them to build confidence within themselves.

Sometimes children need to be given a little more responsibility so that they have ample opportunity to achieve something. Those who aren’t given the chance equate it with not being good enough to do anything.

It dampers their spirit and will eventually control them to the point where they won’t want to try to achieve anything for fear of yet another failure. Give them some kind of responsibility that’s appropriate for their age and skillset.

Children look up to their parents. In their eyes, you’re superhuman, but that can sometimes result in low confidence in themselves when they start to think that they could never live up to you.

Don’t be afraid to let them know (and see) your imperfections. It’s a lot easier on them when they realize that you make mistakes, too. For families with more than one child, competition arises for their parent’s attention and affection.

As kids go through the process of trying, failing, and trying again, and eventually succeeding, they develop social skills and faith in their own capabilities. Their interactions with other people help create their self-concept, and this is why parental involvement is key to helping kids form healthy self-perceptions.