Raise Your Child's Self-Esteem

Raise Your Child’s Self-Esteem - Tips on Raising Happy Confident Children!

If your child is happy, positive and vivacious they will have a real zest for life! Here are ten tips to raise your child's self- esteem and improve their confidence.

1. Spend time with your children and plan activities that you will all enjoy as it is important that you come together as a family, a group or just the two of you. Avoid the temptation to replace time that you should spend with your children with presents!

2. Give your child a sense of pride in their history and family. Tell them stories about your family and teach them your language - if you speak one. This will raise your child's self-esteem.

3. Value your child’s opinion, they may not always agree with you, they may not always be right, but you should value what they say and not respond in a negative way. Doing this is a great way to raise your child’s self-esteem as it helps to make them feel respected.

4. Give plenty of praise to your child as this boosts confidence! After all, who doesn’t love being told that they are doing well! Commend your child for what they have done or achieved but make sure it is specific and not just lip service.

5. Encourage children to be self critical, but yet not overly critical of themselves. By doing this your child will be able to acknowledge for themselves when they have done something well or wrong.

6. To help raise your child’s self-esteem avoid comparing them with other children. Ok, we all do this at some stage, but try not to openly do this in front of your child. Every child is different and a perceived skill in one does not mean that your child is not equally as talented as another.

7. Praise your child by using their positive characteristics. For example, if your child is very kind and generous, you could praise this quality. You could also praise your child for the ways they respond to a situation, such as, ‘I really liked that you did not get annoyed when I said we could not have ice-cream today.’

8. Children need activities to keep them mentally and physically active and this is also a great way to raise your child’s self-esteem. Endeavour to get your child to develop hobbies and interests which they enjoy and can do independently.

9. Encourage your child to laugh and laugh and laugh some more! Children should not take themselves too seriously as this often leads to frustration. Happiness is sometimes just the ability not to take yourself too seriously.

10. Give your child responsibility around the house. This doesn’t have to be anything too great, you could simply let them make dessert or put the bread in the toaster in the morning. Chores that children enjoy give them a real sense of achievement and can be a great way to help raise your child’s self-esteem.

This is my top ten list. I am sure there are many other great tips to help parents. Please feel free to add your own thoughts and suggestions using the comments section.