Building Self-Esteem

The best thing a parent can do for their child/children is consistently encourage good self-esteem. If a child is brought up with a good foundation for believing in themselves from a young age, this goes a long way to helping the child believe he or she is strong enough to overcome the bad times.

Self-esteem is a person’s perception of themselves, their sense of self-worth. It oversees the mind’s ability to cope with life’s challenges and experiences. It’s a set of beliefs and emotions that steer behavior.

Building self-esteem is an internal process that each person must construct and come to terms with on their own. But as parents, there are definite ways to foster a healthy self-esteem.

Here are a few areas in which to begin:

• Have realistic expectations for the child. This offers a sense of control (self-control), which in turn fosters a healthy self-esteem.

• Don’t compare siblings – each child’s strengths should be individually listed and reinforced.

• Offer children choices – this minimizes power struggles. For example, ask the child if he/she would like a reminder 10 minutes before getting ready for bed/brushing teeth, etc. This teaches decision-making skills.

• Help each child feel unique, loved, and appreciated by focusing on the child’s strengths. Don’t ignore the child’s problems, talk about them with them. Try setting aside a special time to spend each week for each child – even if it is 20 minutes. Pledge to pay attention, not answer the phone, etc, during this time. This helps develop hope and resilience.

• Help progress decision-making and problem solving through dialog. If your child is having problems at school, ask them to think about how they might overcome or learn to cope with the problem. They might need time to come up with some options, but the more they use this skill, the better it will develop.

(From Dr. Robert Brooks and the Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities.)

The information on this Web Site is presented for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat any mental health issues without consulting a qualified professional.

 

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