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An individual's self-esteem is his or her idea about his/her own self worth. Individuals with high self-esteem are much more likely to succeed in life. In many cases, individuals with low self-esteem can work toward building their esteem by engaging in self-esteem building exercises. If you want to help your child grow into a happy, healthy, successful adult, you can do your best to encourage them and help them build or improve their self-esteem. But, how do you help your child build self-esteem? Consider the following suggestions.

ENCOURAGE THEM.
Help build your child's self-esteem by encouraging their talents and interests. Some parents can easily fall into the trap of trying to protect their children by discouraging them from pursuing goals that their parents feel are unattainable. If you discourage your child, chances are he or she will begin to establish and cling to the idea that he or she is not good enough to accomplish goals that he or she may very well be capable of if he/she tried.

MONITOR YOUR CRITICISMS.
If your daughter wants to be the next American Idol, but she can't carry a tune, be careful with the way that you present your criticism. Encourage her to follow her dream by taking singing lessons or joining a church or school choir. Chances are she will probably either find something else she is more passionate about, but even if she does experience some disappointment and criticism along the way, she will be much more prepared to handle and overcome these negative emotions if she knows she can turn to her supportive parents who believe in her. Remember, even if she is not the greatest singer in the world, she can still pursue different interests while attempting to achieve her singing goals. And, with exposure to various activities, she might even find her true passion or talent.

BE A ROLE MODEL.
Your child's number one role model is you. Remember that if you have a negative self-image or if you suffer from low self esteem, chances are your child will model their behavior and thoughts after you. On the other hand, if you exhibit high self-esteem, your child is much more likely to have high self-esteem as well. To help build your child's self-esteem, make certain that you have fully accepted yourself and display confidence in your own life.

Overall, self-esteem can be extremely fragile, particularly in children. It is the parent or caregiver's responsibility to help their children develop healthy and high self-esteem by encouraging them to pursue passions, talents, or interests and serving as a good role model for them to mold their behavior and actions after.

Learn more about this author, Krystle Hernandez.
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