Noting that healthy self-esteem can build a protective armor between your child and the difficulties of the world, KidsHealth.org states that children who feel good about themselves often have an easier time handling conflicts and resisting negative pressures. Low self-esteem, on the other hand, can set your teen up for depression and leave him without the skills necessary for overcoming challenges. You can help him avoid the emotional pitfalls of low self-esteem by parenting in a way that instills confidence and fosters a positive self-image.
Step 1
Praise her often. Compliment her to friends and family within her hearing. Make sure your teen knows you value her efforts as much as her accomplishments. Keep the compliments sincere. Most teens can sense a parent's honest praise versus an overly zealous attempt to make them feel better, according to HealthyChildren.org.
Step 2
Ask for his opinion about family vacation plans, paint colors for the house or even politics. Seeking his opinion shows him you value his input, which builds confidence. Implementing his ideas might not work, but you can show your respect for his thoughts on how the new mayor can handle crime in your city. Initiate the conversation with the intention of getting to know him better rather than overruling his worldview with your experience.
Step 3
Teach your children to view themselves accurately. Identify areas of misconception, such as "I am too stupid to do math." Remind her that learning new skills takes practice and patience. If she fails to score in a soccer game and questions her value to the team, help her see that her efforts during the game helped her team member score the winning goal.
Step 4
Encourage him to pursue hobbies or sports that interest him. Learning new skills boosts confidence, which plays an important role in healthy self-esteem. Protect your bank account. Let him try out his wish to become a rock star on a used guitar before purchasing the best money can buy for a daydream that vanishes after a few short weeks.
Step 5
Talk with her about signing up for community service. Tutoring younger children after school or volunteering to help at a community center can enhance her confidence and may help her identify career interests. HealthyChildren.org notes that teens who feel valued by their communities as well as their families often have a better sense of their worth.
Step 6
Criticize honestly but constructively. Address the behavior and offer ways to correct it. Telling your child he failed his final because he was too stupid to study gives the impression he has little control over failure. Suggesting he study rather than watch television next time will give him the option of making a better choice. Suspending television privileges for a while might help bring the message home.
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