Self-esteem issues can manifest in children at any age, and they can be difficult to deal with. It’s important for parents to be proactive in helping their children build self-esteem and to work through any self-esteem issues that may arise. There are a variety of things parents can do to help their children feel good about themselves, and this article will outline some of those strategies.
8 Strategies to Help Children’s Self-Esteem Issues
Spend Quality Time
One of the most important things parents can do to help their children build self-esteem is to make sure they are spending time with them every day. Children need to know that their parents find them important, and showing them this by spending quality time together will go a long way in helping them feel good about themselves. You can find some fun family activities in our FAMILY TRADITION article.
Listen to Them
Listening to children when they are trying to talk about their self-esteem issues is incredibly important. It’s also important not to let your own self-esteem issues show, which can be difficult for parents who have self-esteem issues themselves. Listening without judgment or offering advice too soon will go a long way in helping children feel like their self-esteem issues are valid.
Reinforce Positive Behaviour
When you notice positive behaviour, make sure to reinforce them by letting your child know how proud you are of what they did. You can also try praising specific aspects of a situation rather than the child as a whole – for example, “You worked really hard on your project.” instead of “Good job!”
Make a list
Make a list of the things your child has doubts about to check if there is room for improvement and work on these things. You should also ask them to come up with solutions to problems.
Offer Support
When self-esteem issues do arise, make sure to offer support. This can come in the form of offering encouragement when they’re struggling or just being there for them if they’re dealing with self-esteem issues at school or through other social interactions.
Manage your feelings
Always maintain self-control, as the self-esteem of your child depends on it. If they catch you upset or angry about something, they might think that there is something wrong with them. Always tell them how much they mean to you and that you are there to support them with whatever they need.
Teach Them to Build Up Others
Children should learn how to build others up instead of tearing them down, and self-esteem starts here. Praise other peoples’ positive characteristics, abilities or actions. Being able to find positives in other people will open the conversation to find positives in themselves.
Teach Them to Use a Kinder Voice
When you catch your child talking to themselves or about themselves in a negative way, ask them if they can find a kinder voice. For example: ask them to talk to themselves as if they were talking to their best friend. I’m sure they would not make negative statements about their BFFs.
You can use our Kinder Voice printable to help your children learn kinder ways to talk to themselves.
If you are interested in working on your child’s need to be perfect, you may want to consider our IMPERFECTION Value Guide.
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