Having high self-esteem is one of the most important traits or characteristics that a child should have. How a child handles peer pressure, setbacks, and other challenges in life is based on their social, emotional, and behavioral health.
High self-esteem is a good sign of healthy or good mental health. Building your child’s confidence helps your child engage in positive social conduct. It also acts as a buffer when they are stressed or faced with complex scenarios.
In this article, we will discuss significant ways to help boost your child’s self-esteem.
Give unconditional love each day
Letting your children know how much you love them gives them a sense of security and belonging. And it is a critical factor that affects their self-esteem. Giving your children unconditional love becomes a foundation. It is for all the healthy relationships that they will develop later in life.
So always hug and kiss your kids when saying goodbye to school or work. Play with them or read books with them. Show them how much you love them every single day. And as they grow, this foundation of love will support them as they develop their own social circles, find their friends, and form ties with colleagues.
Play and have fun with them
Playing with your children is an excellent way to show how much you care for them. Simple activities to have fun with your child offers a lot of benefits for you and your child.
Your kids develop or gain confidence in their capacity to be entertaining and engaging people. And it is essential to form strong social ties. Studies have also shown that children who engage in healthy play have higher chances of being happy. Also, they have a lesser risk of depression and anxiety.
Teach them chores and responsibilities
Having age-appropriate duties to complete provides your child with a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Let them know you appreciate their efforts, even if they don’t do everything exactly. Praise them for everything they do well. And reassure them that they will improve at many things over time, including their duties.
Kids have a sense of control over their lives by having chores and obligations. Having responsibility for modest tasks around the house can help foster confidence and resilience when things are unpredictable.
Track how they use technology
Most of us, including kids and parents, are constantly connected to our electronics in today’s society. Texting, posting on social media, conducting business, and doing school activities, are all possible on mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. Naturally, this was especially important during the pandemic.
All these connections have both positive and negative aspects. It’s a good thing since it allows individuals to be more productive and stay connected from the comfort and security of their own homes. But, if the online activity interferes with family bonds and communication, it can be costly. Similarly, too much screen time might hurt physical health.
Some studies show that too much gadget use causes obesity in children. They no longer perform physical activities to stay healthy. This might cause you to enroll your child in weight-loss programs to ensure that their health won’t get compromised.
Decide as a family what type of online activity is essential and what is just for fun. Then make a strategy to balance your daily screen time with activities such as going on walks, riding bikes, reading, and playing games with your family.
Teach and encourage them to be independent
During elementary school years are a time when children learn about independence a lot. Many youngsters begin to spend time alone at home, walk to school on their own, and assist younger siblings when they reach middle school.
Allowing your children to become more self-reliant is critical. Let them figure out how to approach teachers about any issues on their own and how they manage homework and assignments. Helicopter parenting affects children’s ability to make decisions on their own and lowers their self-esteem. It also takes away their autonomy.
Avoid, or much better, do not insult your child.
When your child is misbehaving or does something that irritates or frustrates you, it’s vital to keep the behavior apart from your child. You’re human, so you’ll get upset or even angry when your youngster pushes your buttons. It’s pretty normal to feel these emotions, but don’t call your child names or embarrass them.
Instead, speak respectfully to your kid. Don’t shout. Remove the emotional component from your discipline by using natural and logical consequences. Talking to your child in a warm and friendly tone is a smart approach to do this.
Teach them to view a setback as a learning experience
Stress the importance of making errors and not being flawless as part of being human. Teach your youngster to see setbacks as chances to learn and grow.
When your child makes a mistake, which is very normal, be patient with them. And, if you notice them act out at school or have behavior issues, do everything you can to transform such situations into learning opportunities. Teaching them will boost your child’s self-esteem and show that making errors isn’t the end of the world as long as they healthily deal with them.
Helping your children boost their self-esteem is a crucial role for parents. It would take your extra effort sometimes. But remember that it is up to you how your children will act in the future.