As a parent, you have to ensure that your child develops a healthy self-esteem. It is the foundation for your child’s well-being and the key to her success as an adult. Given below are some simple strategies to help boost your child’s self-esteem:
- Let your child take healthy risks. Encourage her to explore something new, such as trying a different food, finding a new friend, or riding a bicycle.
- Let mistakes happen. In the course of making choices and taking risks, your child is bound to make mistakes. Whenever she makes a mistake, encourage her to think about what she might do differently the next time, to make her understand that it’s okay to make mistakes.
- Accept your mistakes. Acknowledging and recovering from your mistakes sends a powerful message to your child — it makes it easier for her to accept her own shortcomings.
- Give genuine compliments. Make an effort to acknowledge the good things that your child does every day. This will enhance her sense of accomplishment and self-worth. But remember not to over-praise her.
- Assign her some age-appropriate household chores. Think about your child’s strengths and interests and give her a job that allows her to feel useful and successful.
- Resist making comparisons. If you let your child know that you appreciate her for the unique individual she is rather than comparing her with others, she’ll be more likely to value herself too.
- Encourage her at all times. Every child needs the kind of support from loved ones that says, “I believe in you. I see your effort. Keep going!” Encouragement shows that you acknowledge her progress.
- Show your trust in her. Your child will develop a healthy self-esteem when you make her believe in herself.
- Help your child learn that we all have some strengths and weaknesses, and that she doesn’t have to be perfect to feel good about herself.
- Make clear that your love is unconditional. Your child benefits the most when you accept her for who she is regardless of her strengths, weaknesses, temperament, or abilities.
So, you have to learn to step back and let your child take risks, make her own choices, solve problems and stick with what she starts.
