building self-esteem
Healthy self-esteem is feeling good about yourself, feeling that you are a worthwhile person. Self-esteem builds a solid foundation to help children and parents cope with life.
what is self-esteem?
Self-esteem is about valuing and liking yourself. It is also about believing in what you can do. Children develop self-esteem when:
- they feel they have a place in the world where they belong
- they are a part of a family where they matter
- they are encouraged to do things and succeed.
why is self-esteem important?
- Self-esteem helps people feel they can develop their own skills and contribute to their community.
- When people have low self-esteem they don’t feel confident about doing things for themselves, or using their talents and abilities in the best way.
- Low self-esteem is also linked to stress, coronary heart disease and anti-social behaviours.
what parents can do
- Tell your child that you love them as they are.
- Show your child that you love spending time with them doing the things they like to do.
- Show respect by talking in a way that you would like to be spoken to.
- Listen in a way that shows you take your child seriously.
- Encourage friendships. Make their friends welcome in your home and get to know them.
- Help your child to explore any hobbies that they are interested in.
- When you play games with your child make sure they have opportunities to win.
- Celebrate your child’s achievements and successes.
- Show your child that you have faith in them. Don’t solve all their problems. Help them learn problem solving skills so they can manage things for themselves.
reminders
- Children are not born with self-esteem
- Young children learn self-esteem through what they can do and what their parents think of them
- ‘Put down’ messages damage self-esteem
- Giving time, hugs and smiles are very important to building self-esteem
- Laugh with your children - not at them
- Keep giving sincere messages that build self-esteem in your teenagers, even if they say they don’t believe you. These messages matter
- Self-esteem is learned and can be changed
- Take care of your own self-esteem.
