Ways of Boosting the Self-Esteem of Your Child

Self-esteem is all about how an individual views himself/herself. A person’s viewpoint includes both his/her positive and negative characteristics. Experiences, feelings, thoughts and relationships have a big role to play in a person’s self-esteem.  

If your children have low self-esteem, they will view themselves as highly flawed individuals. They will think poorly of themselves and imagine themselves as simply not good enough. Another thing is that a child afflicted with low self-esteem would struggle with accepting positive feedback.

Children who have low self-esteem, more often than not, turn out to be shy and introverted. They battle with self-imposed limitations and even have self-sabotaging tendencies.

On the other side of the fence are those with high self-esteem. They portray enthusiasm, experience a greater sense of self-worth and most importantly, feel comfortable in their own skin.

Hence, it is evident that supporting a child through the years and developing their self-esteem helps improve their psychological well-being.

The Importance of Nurturing Self-Esteem in Children

Self-esteem plays a vital role in a child’s happiness and self-worth. Children who have more self-esteem feel confident and capable to a great extent. They can even stand up for themselves, unlike their peers with low self-esteem.

The children that have sufficient self-esteem display the following attributes:

• They will possess a more resilient nature, which will help them bounce back quicker from mistakes and failures
• A sense of control that motivates them to think and act independently
• Ability to build secure relationships
• Make sound decisions and not get affected by peer pressure

Promising signs that child is experiencing better self-esteem is that they attempt to overcome difficulties and ask for help, if they are initially hesitant. Here, the caregiver has to strike a balance between displaying overprotective and supportive tendencies, and an ample dose of realism. 

The warning signs of low self-esteem issues extend to:

• Avoiding and not taking up new opportunities
• Passing the blame to others for their own mistakes
• Unable to accept compliments and display feelings of anxiety or stress
• Inability to make friends
• Always fearing failure
• Nursing thoughts of being unloved and unwanted
• Absence of motivation and interest
• Negative feelings and constant comparison with others

Ways to Boost Your Child’s Self-esteem

There are many minute yet significant steps parents can take to encourage a sense of self-esteem in their offspring.

Attempt to be a Good Listener:

Even if you disagree with what your child is trying to convey, put yourself in your child’s shoes and address the child the same way you would have preferred from an adult in your life.

Seeing this from your child’s perspective will encourage them to return to you with their problems and questions, or even if they just need to vent.

Always Be Kind:

Children are ill-equipped to comprehend excessive displays of anger, criticism and hostility. Always be sure to choose your words wisely when interacting with them.

Harsh words may have unpleasant ramifications in the future, well into their adult lives.

Strive to Encourage Communication:

Encourage the children to share their lives with you. Displaying this interest will show them that you find them interesting and worthy of your time.

Trust in Their Decision-Making Ability:

When people make their own decisions, it boosts their confidence. When helping your child make their own decision, remember to ease them into it. Leaving them to make too many choices, or a major one, could be overwhelming.

Display Affection towards Them: 

Observe and understand the signs of love they best respond to. It could be a hug, encouraging words, or even time alone. Figure out what works best and go along with it.

— Mohammed Fazeel