There are few worse feelings as a parent than watching your child’s self-worth fall like a ton of bricks. It can be downright soul-crushing.
And while you can’t stop your child from harshly judging how their abilities and bodies match up to others, there are a number of things you can do to provide support. Here are 7 proven ways to build up your kid’s self-esteem:
- Encourage them to focus on the skills they have and then show them how to use those skills.
- Help them set the type of reasonable emotional, intellectual, and social expectations that they can easily attain.
- Listen, pay attention, and offer unconditional support that is fueled by your non-judgmental love.
- Help them find additional sources of support, such as teachers, friends, or mentors.
- Give them the chance to build their resilience by letting them fail on occasion.
- Catch them in the act while they’re being (and doing) good – and then offer heartfelt words of appreciation and praise.
- Be a positive role model by showing them what it means to have a healthy self-esteem.
Whatever your kid is going through affects you. By using the strategies above, you can ensure that they soon start feeling better about themselves and their place in the world.
The Music Mom: Eileen Carey 