How to Foster Self-Esteem in Children and Teenagers
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Self-esteem is a critical component of mental health and happiness. Maintaining high self-esteem during the teenage years can be challenging when hormones are raging and peer pressure is intense. However, it is essential to remember that self-esteem requires nurturing throughout life. This blog post will discuss ways to foster self-esteem in children and teenagers. We will also explore the benefits of having high self-esteem.
How does a child’s self-esteem develop?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “self-esteem is a person’s sense of self-worth or personal value. It includes both how you feel about yourself and how others see you.” A child’s self-esteem develops from an early age, and it is vital to focus on learning to foster self-esteem in children and teenagers. Children’s self-esteem can be affected by many factors, including the home environment, social situations and other children, appearance, academic performance, and more.
External factors can impact one’s positive self-image, such as media portrayal of beauty standards or bullying behavior at school. These external influences may lead us to believe that we need to meet specific criteria for other people to accept us, which becomes problematic because no one is perfect.
Foster Self-Esteem in Kids and Teenagers
Help them set realistic goals and praise their efforts, even if they don’t meet their goals.
Parents don’t realize that sometimes the amount of pressure we place on our children may set them up to fail. We need to work with them so our children can set realistic expectations to feel good trying new tasks.
The key is to praise their efforts and not the outcome. This type of praise might seem counterintuitive, but kids need more encouragement when things don’t go as planned. It’s easy for them to feel like a failure if they fail at something important without realizing all of their efforts along the way were meaningful too!
You can also help by setting reasonable expectations of your child and being a good role model for them.
Let your child go at their own pace instead of rushing or forcing things upon them before they are ready. Allowing kids to set their own pace helps children develop self-confidence because they feel like the world isn’t moving too fast around them but rather letting themselves lead from within by choosing when it’s time to act.
Encourage them to try new things to build self-esteem, even if they’re afraid of failing.
Now is the time for our kids to try many different activities to determine what they love and what they are naturally good at. So often, kids become timid at trying new things for fear of not being good at it or comparing themselves to other kids.
Parents can model confidence after taking on challenges and hard work by sharing these milestones with their children. We can help our kids by explaining that learning new skills can help us feel proud and confident of ourselves, and we would never know if we are good at something if we don’t try. A child learns from their parents and environment, so when our kids see us trying on new skills, we provide an excellent example that it’s never too late to gain success.
Let them know that it’s okay to make mistakes – everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
It may sound cliche, but when we are in the thick of parenting and stressed out ourselves, many of us can react negatively when our children or teenagers make a mistake. When we praise their efforts, kids develop good self-esteem and feel support during difficult situations.
When we use harsh words, many teens report not feeling good about their ability or themselves. Talk and praise your kids and remind them that mistakes will happen and challenges will arise; however, the thing to feel proud of is that they tried their best or can now reflect on what they would do differently.
Mistakes are what help us grow and learn.
Help them develop a good sense of humor – laughter is the best medicine!
Learning to foster self-esteem can be fun! As a child, I wished my family would have helped me develop this skill and not take myself too seriously. It would have prevented a lot of bullying and helped me feel confident.
Kids learn that laughing at themselves and being light-hearted can help them feel comfortable in the most awkward situations. When kids can make fun of themselves, they’re not so worried about what others think and feel free to be their true selves.
Help them develop a healthy sense of humor by laughing at themselves sometimes too! It’s okay if you slip up or forget something; that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with us just because we are human.
Teach them how to be kind and compassionate towards others.
Giving to others feels good. Helping your child develop this skill and have empathy will help them build confidence. When we focus on others, it takes the attention off of ourselves and helps us feel connected to something larger than ourselves.
Kids who can see that they are not the only ones going through difficult times will develop a sense of understanding and be more likely to help out other kids who might be struggling. Compassion is key in life and something we should all strive for.
Emphasize the importance of being themselves, no matter what anyone else says.
When your child can truly be themselves and feel valued for doing so, they will thrive. From friends to school and other surroundings, every sphere of life should help our kids develop a healthy self and foster self-esteem. We can encourage and talk to our children and teens, so they understand what happens when they cannot shine and share their unique gifts.
It may not be easy, but help your child learn all the positive things they possess. Share your own and discuss others. Let them know that it’s crucial for them to feel good and confident in school and with their friends and family, and one of the ways is to help your child and praise them for being their unique selves.
As we’ve seen, there are many things parents and guardians can do to help children and teenagers foster self-esteem. Encouraging them to set realistic goals, try new things, develop a good sense of humor, and help them help others are all great ways to start. Most importantly, emphasize the importance of being themselves. With these tips in mind, you can help your child or teenager grow into a confident adult with a strong sense of self-worth.
Check out these other stories from Middle School Life Coach, Erin Hansen for more tips and parenting strategies:
Coping With Stress and Frustration as a Parent: Strategies for Staying Sane
How to Connect With Your Middle Schooler: Tips for Parents
