5 ways to build a child’s self esteem
Building self-esteem in children is so important in order to foster their talents and intellect. By starting early we can build the self-esteem needed to encourage their development into confident adults.
Today we have five tips that you can implement with the little people in your life.
1. Let kids make mistakes
Instead of protecting kids from every failure or disappointment, it is actually important to let children experience it sometimes. This teaches them how to deal with situations later in life as they have worked out how to take risks and solve problems on their own. Give them the chance to step up and accomplish realistic goals that you set for them, and give them the chance to learn from their mistakes in the process if they make them.
2. Keep praise in perspective
It’s important to praise kids and let them feel loved and secure in the family unit. But they also need to see their competencies and skills in a realistic way. For this reason there is a point where we need to hold back from the “good job!” mentality for every minor task accomplished. Over praising can end up making kids feel that they don’t need to try any harder or push themselves for better results.
3. Give them a chance to complete tasks
Kids can benefit by having ways to show their skills and competencies. By giving them small jobs to do it can develop their sense of worth and self-esteem as they complete them. They will see that they can make a contribution to the family and that others appreciate them. It could be something as simple as helping pack away toys at the end of the day, setting the table, carrying the bread from the bakery, or any other age-appropriate task that you can think of.
4. Encourage their hobbies and interests
If you find the children are interested in a particular subject, such as cooking, you can then give them tasks (like chopping, stirring, or helping with meal planning) that foster this as a possible hobby for the future. Completing tasks that they enjoy can be a real boost to their self-esteem.
5. Avoid criticising the individual
At the other end of the spectrum from over praising is the hyper critical adult. While it’s important to offer constructive criticism sometimes, it needs to come across the right way. For instance instead of referring to them as a “naughty boy”, focus on the behaviour or action that is negative – for instance “we don’t hit each other in this family”. This stops the child from feeling labeled as naughty or mean, and teaches them the behaviours that are encouraged and expected of them.
Related links:
6 essential tips for travelling with grandkids
The growing trend that sees grandparents as the main childcare providers
What we can (and should) learn from our grandchildren