How To Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem

Make your child ‘feel good’ about good qualities and skills in them, it boosts their self-esteem and gives them a sense of doing the right thing. They feel appreciated and encouraged to do better. You must also be careful not to praise unhealthy behaviour and label them ‘cute’ just because they are young as it can have repercussions on their behaviour later. It is important to praise the child and reward them for good work and good behaviour and reprimand them for bad behaviour. It keeps their self-esteem in check and they feel appreciated and loved when you have this approach.

Help Them Develop Skills

Focusing on academics and scoring alone can make a dull child. If you want to see your child happy, build their self-esteem by letting them choose their interests and pursue them. Encourage them to develop extra-curricular activities in whatever interests them and help them master skills. It boosts their self-esteem and keeps their emotions positive. Give them unconditional love and approach their mistakes and flaws with insights instead of punishments.

Do Not Set Unreachable Expectations

Expecting your child to top the class all the time is an unhealthy expectation. Set goals that help them grow as individuals and do not singularly focus on academics alone. Help them discover their strengths and skills and set reasonable expectations. It encourages them to achieve them and get better at what they do. 

Help Them Cope With Failures

Celebrate their failures as much as you celebrate their success. This is one of the best coping mechanisms that will not let them down when they fail. Do not criticise them or make them feel bad, or worst reprimand or punish them for failing. Make them understand that failures are a part of life and encourage them to try harder and do better instead of feeling bad.

Show Appreciation

Make your children feel good about them even if they have shortcomings. None of us is perfect and children at still at a learning stage. Making mistakes must be welcoming to encourage a healthy atmosphere to grow from their mistakes. Be their friend instead of a stern parent and watch them grow and learn. Appreciation is the easiest way to boost their self-esteem and encourage them to practice self-love which is not selfishness but learning to take care of your emotions and priorities in life.

Teach Them To Deal With Criticism

Set realistic life expectations so they do not wallow in negativity if someone criticizes them. Teach them to differentiate between constructive criticism and toxic behaviour. They can choose to ignore toxic attitudes towards them and take criticism constructively without having to lower their self-esteem. It will let them deal with criticism with confidence without feeling bad about themselves. 

Make Them Feel Valued

Let them contribute towards daily chores around the house and appreciate their efforts. Value their opinions and all the efforts they put in and make them feel special and important. Encourage them to read as many subjects as interest them and let them develop original insights and opinions. When they feel valued, they automatically boost their self-esteem.

Give Them Freedom To Make Their Own Choices

It lets them make mistakes and understand what they want from life. It gives them independent thinking and clarity about important things in life. It lets them understand what they need and what they want from life personally and professionally. Do not decide everything for them. Start small by letting them choose their own clothes and then encourage them to make better decisions as they grow.

Encourage Them To Take Healthy Risks

Watch your child as they begin to take healthy risks. Maybe your child wants to be on their own early on in life or pursue a unique goal where very few ventures. Understand the pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses of your child and encourage them to take risks that benefit them in the long run. Take responsibility for making them understand the calculated risks of what they choose and stick to them till they achieve them. Do not try to rescue them all the time and let them come out of the crisis on their own unless your help is essential. 

Do Not Overpraise Them

It will do you good if you do not overpraise them. It can spoil them and lead to careless and bad behaviours. You want your children to be healthy, social, and successful individuals. You can achieve that by praising their achievements to make them feel good and not put them on a pedestal all the time. Help them understand that it takes time and effort to achieve great things in life and overnight success is only a myth. By overpraising, you are lowering the benchmark they can achieve. They will not be encouraged to push themselves harder if you overpraise them. 

Spend Time With Your Children

Understand how your child thinks and use it to correct their ideologies and build self-esteem. Do not be sarcastic, call names, compare or insult them in front of anyone. Call out their mistakes or shaming them will only damage their self-esteem and make them feel worse. Let them know it is okay to be imperfect and praise only when they put in real efforts to achieve something. Understand the mind of your children so you can develop a plan to build their lives and boost their self-esteem. Keep your appreciation honest and do not sugarcoat all the time. It is good to let them know it like it is, but not all the time. Have a balanced approach when dealing with them. 

Make Them Feel Understood

Parents who have children with disabilities need to make their child feel loved, accepted, and understood. Your child could have different ideologies, and it is your responsibility to listen to what they are saying and make them feel understood. Do not reject what they have to say even if you differ in your opinion. Making them feel understood makes them feel secure and loved. It boosts their self-esteem and they make better progress this way.

Final Word

Parents are wholly responsible for the child’ self-esteem, behaviour and attitude. You have to watch your children, listen to them, and spend time with them to know how they think, feel, and all that they are going through to provide moral support and build their confidence and self-esteem. Have a friendly and an understanding approach towards them and let them know you are there for them without being judgemental, giving all your ears to let them be better people.