Building Self-Esteem in Children

Parenting is one of the most difficult tasks we face as adults and yet almost nothing is done in our education system to prepare us for it. It is assumed that each person will follow his/her instincts and remember what their parents did as a guide. This may not augur well if the parent role model has not been a good one. The result is that while some parents do a good job, others blunder through the series of frustration in what may be to them their genuine effort.
Self-confidence in a child is developed through–

–Firstly, a sincere appreciation of whom the child is. We should affirm the child’s physical resemblance to adults in the family and make it a feature to be proud of.

–Secondly, we should also note the natural talents the child has and develop, encourage them. Self confidence is ruined when parents insist that the child conform to what they think is best, rather than allow for flowering of what the child is endowed with. Self-confidence. As the word implies, is the result of the self-recognizing its ability to perform successfully and gaining a sense of self-worth from that success.

–Thirdly, self-confidence is also the result of healthy, positive relationships between parents and between parents and children. When there is a conflict. Disunity or lack of love and regard between parents, children slowly lose confidence, as they become sad and confused. Family disharmony is one of the main causes of children feeling unloved (even though they may be well provided for materially) and this sense of not being valued eats into the personal worth of the individual.
The assets of a child are built through a sense of commitment by parents and the imparting of values while developing competence in the child. Parents are the main contributors in developing these assets and they must demonstrate through what they say and do that they are fully committed to nurturing the abilities of the child.