by Lorriellah

Created on: February 15, 2011

Having high self esteem has a positive influence upon a person as it can help them to have belief in themselves, to set goals and to make achievements. As a parent it is within your hands to help raise your children's self esteem and it is not a huge burden upon you to do, instead it can be very simple.

Children are vulnerable creatures who are learning about the world around them all the time and are needing reassurance about what they engage in. It is important that as parents we provide our children with the confidence and self belief that they need to be able to go through their lives feeling a success. There are some simple ways in which you can build your child's self esteem and this includes listening, encouraging and praise.

If you listen to your child and actively show that you are hearing what they say then you are showing your child that what they have to say is of importance and is valued which then helps their self esteem to raise. Sometimes it can be the smallest of things; just listening to what they have done at school or what they had to eat at a friend's house, other times it may be more intense as you listen to them telling you about a concern or fear they have. Whatever your child is telling you ask them questions about it, explore what they are feeling and really show them that what they have to say is of importance. This will make children see that their voice should be heard and even if people may not agree with what they are saying their opinion is important which helps to raise their self esteem.

Encouraging your children is a great way to boost self esteem. Encourage your child to take part in activities and if they are shy or unsure listen to their concerns and encourage them that they are able to do it. If your children need encouragement about their school work and doubt their abilities continue to encourage them to stick at their work, to carry on with their reading and show them that the finished outcome is a positive one. Children can be hesitant at times and doubt themselves particularly when faced with a new situation and so some gentle encouragement can give them the confidence they need which then leads to raised self esteem as they feel they have achieved something.

Praising your children is vital in the building of self esteem. If a child is praised and told they have done well then they will shine, they will feel proud of themselves for what they've achieved and their self esteem will soar. Children especially respond well to parental praise as they strive to please their parents, if you thank your child, congratulate them and show them that you're proud this will really help to boost their self esteem. Don't apply pressure on them to behave in a certain way or show disappointment if they are not as successful as you thought they would be, instead find ways to be positive and show your child that you are proud.

Children can take knocks to their self esteem as their friends can be very blunt with their opinions so it's important that parents help to keep their self esteem boosted by pointing out their achievements, listening to their opinions and encouraging them in all that they do. If your child can see that you have faith in them and are proud then this in itself can cause heightened self esteem. It is only natural for self esteem to fluctuate throughout the days but if you try to praise, listen and encourage your child you will be helping to keep their self esteem as high as possible which will have very positive outcomes.

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