Role of Parents in building self-esteem in Children is an essential and tactful task.

Self-esteem is referred to as self-respect or self-worth.

Self-esteem means that you feel good about yourself.

It indicates how much a person likes and appreciates himself.

In the society we live in, we come across a few people who always look confident, and proud of themselves.

They have a feeling to be liked and accepted by everyone.

Society sees and acknowledges their overall strengths and weaknesses and also believes in their capabilities.

The negative experiences do not change their overall perspective, so they dare to express their needs.

Think well about themselves, and therefore we can say these people have a positive outlook on their overall being.

These people dare to do something new.

Do not give up in their endeavour because they accept their mistakes, and so eventually they get success in their lives.

They can make friends and have healthy and strong relationships.

On the contrary, we find a few people who lack the courage to acknowledge the negative experiences in their lives. Some lack confidence and therefore are unable to express their needs.

They do not feel good about themselves and often focus on their weaknesses which eventually leads them to depression and anxiety.

People are self-critical and hard on themselves and doubt on their potential and skills. Also, think they are not good enough to carry on the essential activities in life.

Therefore, they believe that if they try something new, they will not succeed in their lives.

Such people see their mistakes as bigger than they are. And therefore it is hard for them to get over the things that they do not do well and they give up trying when they fail once. As a result, they may not do as well as they could.

Because of their negative outlook, they do not achieve much in their lives so they feel defeated and depressed and that leads them to make bad choices, fall into destructive relationships and fail to live up to their full potential.

What is that factor which leads to the above two contrarian perspectives among the people?

“The factor is Self-esteem.”

Self-esteem is referred to as self-respect or self-worth.

Self-esteem means that you feel good about yourself.

It indicates how much a person likes and appreciates himself.

Importance of Self-esteem:

1 Self-esteem plays a significant role in building motivation and success throughout life.

2 A person with low self-esteem can make bad choices, fall into destructive relationships, or fail to live up to his full potential. He may sometimes feel defeated or depressed. 

3 Having healthy self-esteem helps a person achieve what he aspires to because of his positive perspective toward life.

4 Having high Self-esteem allows a person to maintain healthy relationships.

Role of Parents in building self-esteem in Children:

After the babies are born, they are not aware of their existence.

It is only by positive attention, loving care and acceptance; that they gradually feel conscious of their presence.

They feel safe, loved and accepted, and this is the time when self-esteem is introduced in the life of the babies.

Gradually, it starts growing in the children in a loving and caring environment.

The role of parents at this stage is essential.

As the babies become toddlers and then young children, they learn to do some activities of their own.

They start feeling good about themselves when they learn new skills like crawling, sitting, catching hold of things, moving, standing up, running etc.

Whenever they learn new activities, it gives them a chance for their self-esteem to grow.

Factors that help to grow self-esteem are:

When they make friends and get along with them, learn new skills, practice favourite activities, are praised for their excellent behaviour and so on, they develop self-esteem.

If they are encouraged to try on new and hard things, the activities help them to build self-esteem.

Every parent wants their children to have healthy self-esteem but every child is different, and for some, it is challenging to grow self-esteem.

The reason is that some kids face things like physical disabilities, bullying etc. that can lower their self-esteem. However, parents can help children to raise their self-esteem.

There is a list of things parents can do to raise the self-esteem of their children:

Here are a few tips that can help parents to build self-esteem in children.

1 Teach children to be responsible-

Helping children to develop a sense of responsibility can help to increase their self-esteem. Parents can assign age-appropriate chores or responsibilities, such as making their bed or setting the table. When children complete these tasks, they feel a sense of accomplishment and pride, which can help to boost their self-esteem.

At every age, there are activities that a child can do, like holding a cup of milk or sketching a line with crayons etc. Such things bring joy and sparkle to children. They feel a sense of mastery and delight.

As the children grow, they learn new things like dressing up, running, reading, etc. All these activities help them to improve their self-esteem.

2 Let the children make mistakes-

When children are learning new things, parents must be there to help them accomplish their actions. Let them make mistakes.

Even if they make mistakes, parents should not discourage them. Whenever they complete a task, feel proud of the children and show your emotions.

3 Praise your children-

Praising children for their effort, not just their achievements, can help boost their self-esteem. Parents can praise children for their positive traits, such as being kind, honest, or helpful. This helps children to feel valued and appreciated. Additionally, positive reinforcement such as a hug, a smile or a simple “good job” can go a long way in increasing children’s self-esteem. Praising a child is a must, but one should do it wisely so that it puts a positive impact on children. It should be done just to be effective.  If a child is willing to complete the work, he /she should be appreciated.

4 Be a role model-

Parents should act as good role models to raise self-esteem in their kids. By showing them through their daily activities like cooking meals, cleaning the house, washing clothes shopping, etc. parents can help children to learn activities like cleaning up their toys, making their beds, doing homework, etc.

5 No to harsh criticism-

Harsh criticism must be a big no. Children get a negative belief about themselves.

It harms their self-esteem.

So whenever they make any mistakes, parents must remain calm and try to explain to the kids with patience and understanding.

Do not ever use harsh words.

6 Let the children explore their choices-

Encourage children to express themselves. Parents can create an environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves. Encourage children to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. This helps children to develop confidence in themselves and their abilities. Parents can also encourage children to participate in activities that allow them to express themselves, such as arts and crafts, music, or sports.

Children should do what they like.

Parents must figure out the children’s skills and motivate them to improve on them.

If a child loves painting, dancing, etc he/she should be supported.

7 Practice charity-

Helping others and doing charitable activities is a significant tools to grow self-esteem.

Hence, encourage your children to do small acts to help others like donating books after their use or donating their used clothes to some orphanages, etc.

8 Encourage self-care-

Teaching children to take care of themselves, both physically and emotionally, can help to increase their self-esteem. Parents can encourage children to engage in self-care activities such as exercise, healthy eating, and taking time for themselves. This helps children to feel good about themselves and develop positive self-image.

9 Help children to manage negative emotions-

Teaching children to manage negative emotions can help to increase their self-esteem. Parents can help children to understand and process their emotions, and encourage them to use positive coping strategies such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, or mindfulness. This helps children to feel in control of their emotions and build their self-esteem.

10 Support and encourage children-

Parents can provide emotional support and encouragement to help children to build self-esteem. By being there for their children and listening to them, parents can help children to feel valued and appreciated. This can also help children to develop a positive self-image and a strong sense of self-worth.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the role of parents in building self-esteem in children is undeniably crucial and intricate. Self-esteem, encompassing feelings of self-respect and self-worth, is the foundation upon which individuals construct their perceptions of themselves and their capabilities.

Healthy self-esteem empowers children to navigate life’s challenges with confidence, motivation, and resilience, while low self-esteem can lead to a range of emotional struggles and limitations.

The significance of self-esteem lies in its profound impact on various aspects of a person’s life. It shapes one’s motivation, choices, relationships, and overall well-being.

Individuals with healthy self-esteem tend to approach life with optimism and a willingness to embrace new opportunities, undeterred by setbacks. Conversely, those with low self-esteem may harbor self-doubt, struggle to acknowledge their strengths, and be more prone to anxiety and depression.

Parents play a pivotal role in nurturing a child’s self-esteem from the very beginning of their journey.

Through positive attention, unconditional love, and acceptance, parents create a safe and nurturing environment where children can develop a sense of self. As children grow and learn, parents continue to be instrumental in fostering their self-esteem through deliberate actions and attitudes.

Parents can empower their children by teaching them responsibility and allowing them to make mistakes, turning setbacks into valuable learning experiences. Praising effort and character traits rather than focusing solely on achievements helps children internalize a positive sense of self.

Serving as role models and encouraging self-expression and exploration of interests further contributes to a child’s developing self-esteem.

It’s essential for parents to avoid harsh criticism, as negativity can erode a child’s self-perception. Instead, they should guide children in managing negative emotions and provide them with coping strategies. Encouraging self-care, both physically and emotionally, fosters a sense of self-worth and well-being.

Additionally, involving children in acts of charity and teaching them the importance of giving back can enhance their self-esteem by fostering empathy and a sense of contribution to society. By actively supporting and encouraging their children, parents can help build a strong foundation of self-esteem. This foundation equips children to face challenges with resilience, embrace their strengths, and pursue their goals with confidence.

Ultimately, the role of parents in cultivating self-esteem in children is not only essential but also transformative, shaping the trajectory of their lives and their ability to thrive as confident, capable individuals.

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