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5 Ways to boost your Child's Self Esteem

By Denise M Sanger

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 02Nov2009
Word count: 420
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"Self Esteem" is an important part of growth and development. Fostering a healthy sense of self can help your child avoid problems with bullying peer pressure as she approaches the teen years. Kids that feel better about themselves perform better at school, and are more likely to stay active and healthy. There are a few key ways you can build your child's self respect as they grow:

Offer encouragement: Encouragement is different from praise. While praising your child's accomplishments is great, providing encouragement is important as well. Praise generally focuses on a single even or activity—winning a game, scoring a goal, or getting a great grade on a test. Encouragement focuses on the person—trying hard, working towards a goal, and focusing on the process, not the outcome. While praise can and should be used when warranted, try to offer plenty of encouragement as well.

Don't compare your child to others. Avoid comparing your child to others—everyone has their own skills and talents, and comparing your child negatively to someone else is a sure way to sap confidence. Even positive comparisons can backfire, as your child may feel pressured to live up to set expectations

Be your child's advocate. At school or at home, be an advocate and a voice for your child. While you should give an older child a chance to solve their own problems, they should know that you are on their side, and will back them up. Even if your child is clearly in the wrong, you need to be there to set things right, and to help get them on the right path in a supportive way.

Don't freak out about mistakes. Mistakes happen. It can be very upsetting to know that your child has broken a rule, or done something wrong, but helping your child fix their problem is the best thing you can do. Be supportive, and talk about what kind of solution would be best. "Supportive" doesn't mean "pushover". If your child has broken rules, they will need to face the consequences. Your job is to make sure the consequences are fair, and that your child understands the reason for them.

Listen and pay attention. Ask your child about school, or about her day, and listen to her response. If you ask each and every day, you will be more likely to notice when trouble is brewing. Knowing that you care and understand about her daily life is important, especially as your child grows.

Denise Sanger is the owner of NewCoolToysOnline.com which features a great selection of ride-on toys and outdoor toys for kids of all ages. The company may be reached at 877/950-7665.

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