Children with healthy self-esteem try challenging in school, get along well with others, hold a “can-do” attitude about life, and sense positive about their environment. They can receive ups and downs graciously. The contrary is true of children who suffer from low self-esteem. These children analogise themselves to others and never feel they have done well enough.
They are discouraged easily and fear risk and challenge. Children with low self-esteem can easily fall prey to equivalent pressure, eating disorders, and other dangers.
You can help a kid who has low self-esteem by analysing the reasons behind it. You can also motivate the continuity of those children who have healthy self-esteem. By using an optimistic, can-do attitude in your home, you will pass that attitude on to your kid. Try the following ideas to encourage positive healthy self-esteem:
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EXAMINE YOURSELF AND YOUR ATTITUDE in Children for healthy Self-esteem
Children understand by example. If you hold high healthy self-esteem and think positively, odds are your child will too. If you suffer from low self-esteem you will need to inspect your current habits of thinking and work on changing them.
SEEK OUT THE POSITIVE
This does not mean you need to be a Pollyanna but you should explore the positive side of something. When your child comes to you with a concern, ask questions and pursue the positive side. The same goes for how you operate in your own endeavours. When something goes wrong look for the upside.
Connect TO YOUR CHILD
Parent’s often will sit and tell the comical stories of their past. There is likely much more your child would like to hear. When your child comes to you with a dilemma, share your own understanding. Even though you may be years apart your child may find comfort that you have had times of self-doubt and reference.
WHY ASK WHY?
If your child uses comments like “I can’t” or other statements that show he is frustrated or showing up, ask “Why can’t you?” Asking these queries may frustrate your child and you may hear answers like “I don’t know… I just can’t!” Try fetching the subject up later when the assertiveness of the situation has lessened. Then ask “Earlier today you said you could not solve that puzzle, why don’t you think you could decode it?” By analysing the causes together you may find the origin of low self-esteem.
IDENTIFY STRENGTHS
Another way to improve healthy self-esteem in children is to highlight a child’s strong points. If he is good in art but doesn’t do well in sports-work with him and glorify him for his art. By developing a feeling of belief in one area, that confidence may extend into another area of a child’s life.
PRAISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT
Praise and encouragement are important vitamins for a child. Encourage all children and praise them for circumstances where they put their “all” into it, no matter what the result. Filling your vocabulary with positive messages and delivering a positive environment are big steps in helping your child build healthy self-esteem.
Strategies To Boost Children’s Healthy Self Esteem
Model good and healthy self-esteem:
Express through your activities and comments that you respect yourself. Children are wonderful at mimicking what they see and hear. Remember, you are your child’s 1st best role model.
Construct positive routines:
Young children require routines to help them to feel secure and capable. Try to form a good schedule for bedtime, rest/naps, meals, etc. Try to keep abnormalities in the routine to a minimum and explain any essential changes if/when they occur.
Allow multiple opportunities for children to contribute to the family:
Give your child a job/task that only he/she does for the family. Even a little job can have a positive enduring impact on your child’s healthy self-esteem.
Chitchat about the world in positive phrases:
Actually, though there is negativity in the world, don’t reside in it with your child. When with your child, be certain to point out the many positive specialities in the world.
Expend time with your child:
Remember quality is more significant than quantity. Even if you spend just 20-30 minutes with your child one on one – playing games, taking, walks, having long bedtime conversations, or just nestling in front of the TV, spending time with your child delivers them that you value their company.
Give your child alternatives:
Giving your child alternatives between a reasonable set of options that are already predetermined by you will make them feel empowered.