How Parents Can Help Build Their Child’s Self-Esteem
Lana Swartzwelder
St. Joseph’s Academy, Principal
Approximately 20 to 45 percent of school-aged children do not reach their full potential because they suffer from low self-esteem. Low self-esteem prevents them from succeeding in the classroom.
A school-aged child’s self-esteem is cultivated primarily at home. It is important that parents have a complete understanding of what self-esteem is and how to help build positive self-esteem in their child. Self-esteem refers to how you feel about yourself. It includes self-confidence, self-respect, pride in oneself, independence and self-reliance. A secure home environment that establishes confidence, respect and an open exchange of ideas, thoughts and feelings is crucial to building self-esteem. The more positive a child’s self-esteem, the more successful he/she will be in school and at dealing with life. Confident children will try harder, be happier and have greater self-respect.
Children who constantly put themselves down have low self-esteem. Children who face new experiences with confidence and positive expectations, and shrug off disappointments with an “it will be better next time” attitude, have high self-esteem.
Here are some communication tips to help build or restore your children’s self-esteem:
- have easy-going conversations on topics that are of interest to them;
- ask questions that require an in-depth response;
- be optimistic;
- listen patiently to what they are saying;
- listen to how your child feels without making judgments about those feelings;
- encourage them to express their true feelings.
To build positive self-esteem:
- inspire your children to set goals;
- help them identify obstacles to success, then develop ways to overcome them;
- remind them to think positive thoughts;
- praise your children everyday;
- everyday, say “I love you” and mean it;
- allow your children to be free to succeed and to make mistakes;
- compliment your children and don’t compare them to other siblings; and
- make time to talk to your children every day.
