Boosting Your Child’s Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is something many people struggle with, but it is especially challenging for kids. As a child or pre-teen, there are many pressures in your everyday life to fit in and just be accepted. Working on your confidence as a child is crucial, and will follow you as you get older.

If you have children, you will want to improve their self-esteem as much as possible, which can be done with these easy tips.

Give Compliments and Praise

Don’t underestimate how powerful a compliment or praise can be, especially from a parent. Your child wants to know they’re doing a good job, that their efforts are appreciated, and have encouragement to keep going. It can really boost their confidence when you praise them when they work hard, whether they “won” or not. This shouldn’t be empty praise constantly, but when your child puts in an effort to do something or try something new.

Allow Your Children to Make Choices

Believe it or not, your children can grow up with better self-esteem when they are left to make their own choices. Within reason of course, but you want them to understand that in life, there are many choices, and you have so much confidence in them, you believe they will make the right ones. If you never let your child make any decisions in their younger years, they don’t really gain this type of confidence in themselves.

Be a Good Role Model for Self Confidence

If you want your child to grow up with confidence, you have to show by example. Be someone who doesn’t put yourself down, or that is constantly making actions or comments to make them think you don’t believe in yourself. Put in an effort, try new challenging things, and talk with your child when you fail at something, to tell them you’re not upset because you put in the effort. Your children are watching everything you do and going to take after you, even when you don’t realize it.

Practice Positivity and Kindness

To be confident and have self-esteem also means to be humble. Raise your child to be a kind, gentle, honest person. They should understand the importance of maintaining positivity and light, even when the world seems a little dark. They gain confidence through knowing they are a good person who is trying to make the world a better place.

Keep an Open Line of Communication

Lastly, try to keep communication open between you and your children. Don’t force them to tell you things, but always let them know they can talk to you about anything, without judgment or ridicule. They never need to feel embarrassed. When you know more about what your kids are going through, it makes it easier for you to help them find their confidence in areas where it might be lacking.