High self esteem is when a child feels important, accepted, in control and purposeful. Having healthy self esteem is to feel lovable and capable. A child with high self esteem will be proud of his or her accomplishments, assume responsibility and accountability, tolerate frustration well, be brave and confident enough to try new things, and exhibit a wide range of emotion. A parent can be challenged as to the best strategies and tools needed to promote high self esteem in a child. But it’s healthy self esteem that will help a child become an emotionally and relationally healthy adult.

Building children’s self-esteem and confidence is something in which both parents and teachers have a vested interest. Sadly not every child develops with healthy self-confidence or strong self-esteem. The reasons for this may be many, but that is for another article. What will be covered here are some tips and strategies for building children’s self–esteem and confidence that should bring good results It is never too late to start building children’s self-esteem and confidence. From the time they are infants and can make eye contact our children look to us for feedback. They smile at us and we smile back which gives them positive feedback. They role over and we are excited, so are they and on it goes. If we treat this gift we are given of having such impact on another human being’s life with respect, our child has the opportunity of growing into a confident child and than a teenager.

One of the best ways we can foster confidence and self-esteem in our children is by taking care of ourselves. Children will eventually mirror what they see. If we as parents are lacking in confidence or have poor self-esteem that will be the most influencing example a child will view. If our confidence and self-esteem is healthy that will favorably impact what our child learns. Praising children is a wonderful way of helping them to gain confidence, but don’t make the mistake of underestimating your children. Kids know when they are being conned. If your praise is general and all encompassing it loses much of its influence and can even produce anxiety in the child on the receiving end of it. Praise should be based in reality, in that way it can actually aid in building children’s self esteem and confidence. Try not to use phrases like “you always do such a great job” or “you’re always so neat”. Children know that they are not always able to achieve this type of perfection and it can cause stress. If instead you get specific with your praise it will carry more weight. Phrases such as “I really liked the way you lined up all you stuffed animal when you were straightening your room” or “I noticed you were putting forth a lot of effort in your math homework” deal with specific situations and allow your child to understand exactly what the praise is about.

We have to reinforce what we say and do by being consistent with what we say and do. This is the strengthening support that will establish the level of self worth in our child and what he or she does with that self worth. Whether they want to be a teacher, scientist, fireman, doctor, or archeologist, the support from us when he is young will give him the encouragement to meet his goals, ambitions, and aspirations in his life. - Click here for more information related to self esteem - children’s self esteem