Building Self-Confidence in Kids
Self-esteem is a very good indicator of health for a child. Consequently, poor self-esteem should not be ignored, since it may be a predisposing factor for a mental and psychological illness. Parents play an important role in making their children feel good about themselves. A child who is contented and happy will eventually develop into somebody who has a positive image of himself or herself.
The Power of Words
Words can contain us, taunt us, and characterize us. Children, in particular, are vulnerable to the impact of words from their parents. Since how they grow is affected by the responses of the people in their surroundings, it is, thus, the parent's responsibility to make sure that the child does not acquire a confused understanding of the world. A child will not be able to flourish in school and at home if he or she feels bullied and is not well-identified.
A parent’s reaction and words will either give the child confidence or persuade him to believe that he is worthless. Building a child’s self-esteem is very crucial for parents to foster a harmless, loving and acknowledging environment that will reassure the child of his worth.
Phrases of encouragement, appreciation and love should be always be used. Body language also means a lot for children. Smiling, nodding, winking, patting the back, or hugging your child is a good way to display and express love and appreciation. Done right, this will allow the child to open up to other people, welcome friendships, be more sociable and active in school, and responsive.
Conversely, the outcome of low self-esteem may result in school grades that are low or even below average. This could also lead to a drastic decrease in the child’s potentials. Low self-esteem may cause some children to sit alone and isolate themselves. Worse, it may even cause some to want to commit suicide.
Fostering the Positive
There are a lot of things parents can do to let their child feel love and acceptance. Being openhanded with praises will help. Parents must cultivate the habit of praising their children for a job well done and a good character trait that is well manifested. Keep the praises well-regulated, however, as too much praise runs the risk of raising a child who is full of himself when he gets older.
Teach them how to make positive self-statements. The importance of redirecting a child’s negative beliefs about his self towards something that is reassuring and encouraging is a major contributor to developing his or her self-confidence.
The avoidance of criticism takes the form of shame and guilt away. If you must say something that's not so nice, figure out a way to do so constructively. Negative judgments won’t help a child and will cause doubt and emotional disorders that will eventually lead to mental illnesses.
Teaching a child that there is not nothing wrong with laughing at your self when you commit mistakes will help. Tell him or her that life doesn't need to be stern and serious every time. Remember that a little sense of humor will be a great help in developing a favorable personality.
Although parents can't totally obliterate all difficulties of life from their kids' lives, parents can escort their kids through the toughest years. Parents can teach their kids wisdom that would be helpful in dealing with the toughest of struggles. Encourage your kids to try activities that may aid them in discovering a new skill. Communicate with their teachers and show interest in everything that they are doing. A boost of self-confidence gives them hope and prepare them for a stable future.