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How to Develop Your Child’s
Self Esteem from an Early Age
How to Develop Your Child’s Self Esteem from an Early Age
There seems to be a lot of media attention focussed towards mental health these days, particularly targeting children and young people.
I think this is great, there is so much awareness out there and so many different strategies available to help children and young people learn how to manage emotions, deal with issues such as bullying and generally improve their mental health.
But, I can’t help but notice a lot of the stuff out there is reactionary in nature (and I’m a little guilty of focusing on “solutions to problems” too so I can understand why this is).
So I thought it might be handy to try and promote some proactive strategies that can be used in the home environment to help develop children’s self-esteem and their resilience (that doesn’t need to be in reaction to a tricky experience or difficulty managing emotions).
Below are 3 of our favourite strategies for developing self-esteem. To access more, make sure you register for an Oh Beehave! membership and then click here.
Let your child help you with things you are doing around the house.
For example, if you are making a cake, let them mix the batter or get the eggs out of the fridge. If you are hanging up the washing, ask them to pass you the pegs as you put the clothes on the line.
Make sure you acknowledge that they have helped and let them know you appreciate their help, by explaining to them how they have contributed.
For example,
"Thank you for helping me hang out the washing, it is much quicker when you pass the pegs to me, which means we can get everyone’s clothes dry and ready for them faster."
Making your child feel like their contributions are worth while and help others can help to develop their sense of self-esteem.
Rituals
Developing rituals with your child can help build your their self-esteem.
For example, your child might choose a story to read with you before bed or you might share something simple like a special saying or handshake with your child.
Think about something that you can create together that you can both understand. This can help your child to develop a sense of belonging, as they feel like they have a connection with someone.
Feeling connected helps boost self-esteem!
Problem Solve
Help your child learn how to work out problems for themself (it can be for simple every-day type things)!
For example, when your child approaches you with a problem, ask them if they have thought about how they would solve the problem, then help them brainstorm solutions and (once they have come up with a solution) re-affirm to them
"See, you can work this out!"
Avoid telling them the answer where possible. Guide the conversation with them so that they can work out the solution that will work best for them.
Feeling a sense of achievement over learning how to work through a problem solving process to work things out for themselves can help boost self-esteem.
For more strategies to help build your child’s self-esteem? Click here to register and then click here for access to more strategies.
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I love your tips, thank you! I agree with most of them besides the “rituals “. I know that rituals give comfort to a child but getting used to them is not the best. What happens if you are not around at bed time? I feel like things need to be kept flexible so the kid doesn’t freak out when the ritual is not possible.
Hi Victoria – if it’s not possible to set a ritual for a particular time of day if it can’t be repeated daily then I agree that it’s probably not the best strategy, however, a ritual can be something as simple as a handshake or a saying – something you do each time you see the child, versus something that has to be done at a particular time 🙂
Great tips, Dominique!! Love the idea of having kids help out as a way to help improve their self esteem–those were also some of my favorite things to do (especially in the kitchen bc I loved to get dirty as a kid) and it made me feel appreciated 🙂
I love watching parents stop and take the time to explain to their child WHY what they’re doing is important and helpful to them. I know I appreciate the words of affirmation – even as a 30-year old adult!
I LOVE letting my kiddo help around the house, he always gets so excited and so proud when he does something himself.
These are great tips! My mom was such a big advocate of letting me help when I was young and it really developed my self-esteem! xoxo
I do agree with the idea that you should let kids help with stuff! I’ve heard that before. It’s a good way to show they are capable. 🙂
These are great tips for parenting. A confident child is a happy child.