5 tips on building your child’s self-esteem

Normally, every child will have dips in self-esteem as they go through different phases of life. Pressure of starting a new school, exams, homework, extra lessons may affect your child’s confidence. Many kids have an abundance of confidence and will easily pass through their difficult stages. But if your kid is a little afraid of the world, then he could be lacking self-esteem.

Self-esteem represents a person’s subjective sense of worth or value. In simple terms, it means how much you value yourself regardless of any situation. You can easily notice it in your child when they seem to feel good about themselves. And this idea of feeling good is what we call “self-esteem.”

However, some kids feel they’re not as good as others or they have lack confidence. The lack of confidence stops them from trying new things. They doubt their abilities and are always hard on themselves. In this case, parents should build the child’s self-esteem. How, you ask? In this article, let’s discuss how to build a child’s self-esteem.

1. Discover strengths
A child with low self-esteem focuses on their weaknesses. So find ways that can help them recognize their strengths. If they enjoy painting, then buy art supplies and allow them to paint. Don’t forget to appreciate their efforts. This will not only make them understand that different kids have different potencies, but will inspire them to appreciate their own.

2. Take risks
Just as you take healthy risks to solve your problem, let your child branch out to try new activities or develop new skills. This will not only build their confidence, but a sense that they can tackle anything that comes their way.

3. Praise their efforts
Constant praising can erode self-esteem. Therefore, it is essential to recognize the effort your kid goes to in trying to achieve something. So, if they have completed their homework given by their primary school tutor but did not get a top grade, be sure to praise them for their efforts.

4. Add household chores to their To-Do list
Delegate responsibilities to your child. Let them unload the dishwasher, set the table, fold sheets, or sweep floors. This allows them to demonstrate their competence to get the work done and feel that their assistance is valuable in the house.

5. Constructive criticism
Your words can either make or break your child. The way you communicate with your child translates into how they feel about themselves. Rather than bashing them harshly, offer constructive criticism. Encourage them to solve their problem and recognize when they’ve done it. For instance, instead of saying, ‘you are terrible with homework,’ try ‘how do you think you did with your homework today?’

6. Challenge negative thoughts
You may notice your child speaks badly about themselves. Stop them right away, instead challenge them to see what they can do rather than what they can’t. Try using the following affirmative sentences.

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Final thoughts
Having self-esteem does not mean you are more important than others or being arrogant. Therefore, maintaining a healthy balance is very important. Teach your child important values such as being kind, good manners, empathy, gratitude, etc. Ultimately, building your child’s self-esteem contributes to positive social behavior, regardless of circumstances.