A person with high self-esteem thinks highly of himself. He is confident, ambitious, social and comfortable in varying situations. He is the type of person you want your child to be. Parents play a significant role in a child's self-esteem. With a little knowledge, you can help build your child's self-esteem so that she becomes a confident, independent and ambitious individual.
Unconditional Love
Children need to feel loved. They need to know that your love does not depend on their achievements, abilities or good behavior. Unconditional love should be shown even when disciplining your child. Your child needs to know that even if they make a mistake and must face a consequence for their mistake, your love does not change. When disciplining your child do not tell him he is bad, as this speaks to him personally rather than to the undesired behavior. Instead, explain to your child why what he did was wrong and why he must now face a consequence, recommends the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Praise
Praise your child often and honestly. Look for things your child does that you can praise him for and vocalize that praise. Teach your child to think positively about herself and to talk positively to herself. "I can figure this out if I keep trying" is an example of positive self-talk. Children who think and talk positively to themselves are less likely to fall victim to depression and more likely to be confident, according to both the Child Development Institute.
Recognition
Teaching your child to recognize when he has made a good decision will help increase his self-esteem. Children frequently make decisions without even knowing that they are making decisions. These decisions may be as simple as negotiating playing terms with a younger sibling rather than arguing, or as serious as choosing to tell a teacher on a bully who pushes him rather than punching the offender. To help him them recognize his decisions, allow your child to try to solve his own problems, helping him along the way by providing suggestions, answering questions or defining the problem out loud to aid his brainstorming. After a resolution has been made by your child, evaluate the outcome with him and discuss problem solving techniques. This will increase your child's confidence in his own abilities.
Safe Environment
Everyone needs somewhere she can feel safe and loved, where she can let her defenses down and know that nothing bad will happen to her; parents need to provide this haven for their children. Children who are abused or exposed to abuse or who have frequently witnessed parental strife often suffer from low self-esteem. Parents must watch for signs of abuse or bullying outside the home as well and deal with these issues quickly and respectfully to avoid decreased self-esteem, recommends the Kids Health website.
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