Developing self-esteem is recognized as an important part of child development. Research noted in the Psychology of Infancy and Childhood tells us that unhealthy self-esteem in childhood can contribute to fear, anxiety, anger, depression, relationship problems, and other complex issues as children get older. Children experiencing low self-esteem may feel that important peers and adults in their lives do not accept them, causing issues with self-esteem to grow.
Signs of low self-esteem in a child may include……..
- the child having a negative view of themselves
- difficulty making and maintaining friendships
- avoiding of trying new things
- low confidence
How do I help my child with low self-esteem?
Allowing your child to take risks, make choices, solve problems, and stick with what they start are some of the building blocks of helping them grow and develop self-esteem.
Allowing a child to take healthy risks is an important part of developing confidence because it allows them to take responsibility for their choices.
Rather than always shielding children from failure, it is important to allow them to make some mistakes and solve their own problems in healthy ways. This includes allowing children to make their own age-appropriate choices. Having children make choices and decisions for themselves gives them the opportunity to demonstrate their competence and allows them to feel that their contribution is valuable.
When helping a child develop self-esteem, it is important to not set extremely high standards of them. Let the child know you love them even if they get a bad grade or make a bad choice or decision. When children try new things, face challenges, and bounce back, they learn and grow, helping them foster healthy confidence and self-esteem.
