Children with high self-esteem will have little trouble facing many of life's challenges, but kids with low esteem will have trouble tolerating conflict and pressure, according to the Nemours Foundation. Your child's self-esteem has to do with what he believes about who he is and what he tells himself he can and can't do. As his parent, you can help bolster his inner dialogue by giving him a sense of importance, belonging and responsibility from the time he is small.
Step 1
Tell him and show him that you love him at all times. Offering random hugs, kisses, and compliments such as, "I'm proud of you," will tell him that he doesn't need to be the best softball player or the top student in his class in order to be worthy of love and affection, says BabyCenter.com.
Step 2
Praise her efforts rather than her successes, says the Nemours Foundation. Even if she makes the team this time doesn't guarantee that she has easy access to a professional sports career down the line. Likewise, if she doesn't make the team, it doesn't mean she should stop trying. In the end, your emphasis on effort will help her realize that having perseverance is more important than innate talent.
Step 3
Critique his behaviors rather than his personality. Telling him, "Bouncing the basketball is an activity for outside the house," rather than, "Why do you have to be so hyper?" teaches him to stop engaging in unacceptable behaviors without causing him to believe that he is flawed, says BabyCenter.com.
Step 4
Ask her about her interests. If she's interested in aquatic animals, buy her books on the subject, take her to aquarium and let her feel the pride of knowing answers to your questions about sea lions. Your active attempts to connect with her will tell her that she is important.
Step 5
Sign him up for esteem-boosting activities. Boy Scouts, volunteer work, mentor programs and other similar activities that encourage your child to cooperate with others will help him feel good about himself, says Nemours.
Step 6
Listen to her with undivided attention when she has a question or concern. If you're busy, at least pause for a moment to acknowledge what she has said and tell her that you will have a discussion about it as soon as you are finished. If you're short on time, respond briefly but tell her that you soon need to get back to what you're doing. BabyCenter.com recommends making eye contact with her to show her that you value what she has to say.
