Building your child’s self-esteem is more than saying how great they are at sports, or math, etc. Confidence is not built on mastering a skill. It’s built when we learn how to rebound from failure. Let’s look at 5 simple ways you can help build your child’s self-esteem.
Develop New Skills to Build Confidence and Help Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem
Help your child develop new skills as time passes, and not get stuck being “perfect” at 1 thing. If your child is a star basketball player, that’s great! But let’s not let that be the only skill that brings up your child’s self-esteem.
Help your child expand their interests and try out new adventures, new hobbies, new ideas.
Failure is Okay
Failure is not the enemy. When we fail, we learn. In fact, when we fail we learn how to adjust our work effort so we can improve and then succeed where we once failed.
Help your child not be defeated by defeat. Instead, change how you approach the problem, work harder, or work in a different manner. Finding a different solution to an obstacle is how we build our perseverance in the face of failure.
Everyone Makes Mistakes
It’s quite possible that we learn more from our mistakes than our successes. We certainly remember our mistakes, so let’s help our kids to learn from them.
Confidence is knowing how to handle failure, how to work around obstacles and move past them.
Praise Your Child’s Effort and Persistence
It’s easy to praise a child’s successes, but what about the work effort? If you want to help build your child’s self-esteem, make sure to praise their effort and persistence.
If your child studied hard and worked religiously to improve his/her grade, praise that effort! Maybe you both wanted to see an ‘A’ on that test, but if he/she worked hard and put in the time and ended up with a ‘C’ or a ‘B’, that’s okay! Praise your child’s effort. Make sure he/she knows how proud you are of his/her persistence.
Confidence isn’t gained in success. It’s achieved when we push through the tough times and continue to try. It’s not quitting when we aren’t the best.
Show Value and Love to Help Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem
Kids of all ages can help in the house. Simple chores, like picking up toys for younger kids, or having teens pick up groceries, shows your kids they are a valued and needed member of the family. When kids are asked to help, to contribute, they learn that work effort has value, and they will feel valued and appreciated in the home.
Make sure your child knows they are loved. Show your appreciation and love daily to your child and watch his/her confidence grow.
Counseling for Kids and Teens in Canonsburg, PA
If you have concerns about your child or teen, or if you would like to get to know us a little better, please call us at (724) 503-6670 or email us at admin@inthenowcounseling.org for help.
We have three amazing therapists in our newly renovated victorian office in the heart of Canonsburg. We would love to talk with you about how we can help your child or teen.
