Strong self-esteem is the way to success for a child. Kids, who trust in themselves, can easily handle conflicts and resist negative stress. These kids are realistic, active, have positive approach, and love smiling and enjoying the life rather worrying for it. On the other hand, children who have low self-esteem are addicted of self-criticism. Their own perceptions, such as “I can’t do this” or “I am good for nothing”, make them depressed. You can really play a vital role to build a healthy self-esteem in your child. You have to be the role model for your kid. To know how to boost the self-esteem, go on with this article and find out many exercises and activities for the same.
Definition of Self-esteem
Everyone does have self-perceptions, be it a kid, a young man or an old person. However, these thoughts start emerging since child-hood. It is how a person or a kid defines him or herself. This definition influences his or her emotions, motivation, attitude, and behavior. Self-esteem is the bunch of beliefs or feelings that everyone has. Some of them have healthy thoughts while some have low. A child develops ideas about his or her own abilities. These ideas are the revert of his or her attempt on a task where he or she keeps getting many up and downs and finally succeeds.
So one can say that self-esteem is the feelings of own capabilities and feelings of being loved as well. If a child gets love but at the same time if he or she does not believe in him or herself, can cause low self-esteem. A child also creates self-concept based on what others think about him or her. This is why parental involvement is essential to help a child form accurate, healthy self-perceptions.
How to Build Self Esteem in Children
Take care of some basics while facing up your child and you will feel a big difference. Here are some tips that can be helpful to you.
- Take care of what you say- Your words always affect children, as they are quite sensitive to you. Do not praise him only when he does a job well but also encourage for his/her effort. For example, if your child does not qualify for quiz competition, do not say, “Work harder next time and you will make it” instead you must say, “I am really glad seeing your effort put in to it”. Rather expecting for good results, you must reward his or her efforts for this.
- Let your child be parts of constructive experiences- Try to get him or her involved in those activities that encourage cooperation rather than competition as much as possible. This really helps building healthy self-esteem. Here your child will learn to work with others and that will enhance team-playing nature. To be a good team player means that your child does have strong self-esteem.
- Check whether you are positive minded or not- children learn a lot from parents, they develop their own thoughts by figuring out your behaviours. If you yourself do not believe in your abilities then it would become difficult for you to guide your child. Children normally copy your approach so nurture your self-esteem; be optimistic and realistic. In addition, your child will have a great role model.
- Love your child, as he or she always needs affection. Love is essential to boost self-esteem. Give hugs. Let your child know that you are proud of him or her. You need to show your love as a child is not matured to understand it mutually. Be open to him so that he can share his problems with you and for this, you need to keep talking to him in a nice way.
- React positively and honestly- Your child has a warm session with his or her elder brother. He is rigid at his point. Here normally you pass a comment like, “you just want to keep yourself up to you". Instead of it what if you say, “I was really happy to see your confidence, however it seemed that fight may take place”. This kind of reaction not only helps him in improving his attitude but also keeps his self-esteem at the top.
- Make your home a paradise for your family- Take care of everything that you find new in your child. Be careful about signs of abuse by others, difficulties in school, hotshot with peers, and other factors that may affect your child's self-esteem. Deal with these issues sensitively but swiftly.
Seek Professional Help
If you feel your child has low self-esteem, you must go for professional help. Child counselors work to disclose underlying issues that are somehow preventing your child from observing well about himself. Therapy may be helpful for a child to view himself and the world in a new way. This enables your child to recognize himself. Once the child recognizes and judges his abilities, he can start gaining healthy self-esteem.