​A healthy self-esteem is a child's best defense against peer pressure, bullying,

and other challenges they may face. Kids who feel good about themselves tend

to smile more and enjoy life. Kids with low self-esteem often deal with

overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frustration.

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Self-esteem is similar to self-worth, or how much a person values himself or

herself.  It begins from infancy and can develop and evolve well into adulthood.

Because of this, its so important that we work to build a healthy self-esteem in

our children early on so that they can become confident, strong teenagers who 

develop into successful and happy adults.  In a nutshell, self-esteem can be 

described as a feeling of how you perceive yourself - do you feel confident in 

your ability to ace a test, or make a new friend, or are you plagued by feelings

of self-doubt?  

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Kids with low self-esteem may not want to try new things and may speak

negatively about themselves: "I'm stupid," "I'll never learn how to do this,"

or "What's the point? Nobody cares about me anyway." They tend to be overly

critical of and easily disappointed in themselves.

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Kids with healthy self-esteem tend to enjoy interacting with others. They're comfortable in social settings and enjoys group activities as well as independent pursuits. When presented with a challenge, rather than saying something like, "I'm an idiot," a child with healthy self-esteem says, "I don't understand this." They know their strengths and weaknesses, and accept them. A sense of optimism prevails.



How kids feel about themselves can depend on many different factors, such as their environment, body image, life experiences, and the standards they set for themselves, even their relationship with you as their parent. You play an important role in helping your son or daughter feel better about themselves. When you hear your child make a negative comment about themselves, call attention to it.  For instance, if you hear "I'm not smart enough," you can respond with things they should feel good about like, "You are smart enough, remember how you made an A last week on that spelling test.  You can do this and I can help!" Point out things that your child should feel good about, such as close friends, a supportive family, good grades, or athletic successes.



Recognizing and modifying negative thoughts and then making a positive contribution can help your child develop a good self-esteem.  In addition encouraging your child to take positive actions such as volunteering, exercising regularly, and adjusting unrealistic expectations that they may have set for themselves are just a few strategies that may boost your child's self-esteem.



Parents can provide honest praise whenever it's called for. Just remember to be attentive to your own style of criticism — try to keep it constructive. In some cases, a child may need the help of a mental health professional to build healthy, positive self-esteem. If that's the case, remember that its okay.  If you're concerned about your child's self-esteem, there is not harm in talking to their doctor or a therapist with training in pediatric mental health issues. Perhaps the most crucial strategy is letting your child know, on a regular basis, all the great things you see in them.  Continually feeding your child verbal praise, when it is warranted, will help them to know their self worth.  It build's their self-esteem and as stated, this will help them grow and develop positively in the long run.