13 ideas to boost children's self-esteem

We all know how important it is for our children to have good self-esteem, a good self-concept that allows them to face life and its challenges with confidence and security.

Here are some ideas to reinforce it:

1. Hug him, tickle him, smother him with kisses, and tell him how much you love him EVERY DAY. The foundation of good self-esteem is feeling loved; this is how we strengthen their SELF-CONFIDENCE. Without LOVE, there will be no high self-esteem; it is the most ESSENTIAL thing.
2. Listen to him attentively when he tells you something (and not while looking at your phone). Bend down to be at his level if necessary, so it will be easier to establish eye contact and you will be showing him that what he wants to tell you is also important to you.
3. Give him responsibilities. As the child grows, we can give him more responsibilities at home. From throwing his dirty clothes into the correct bin to taking his plate and glass to the dishwasher, tidying his room, making his bed, setting the table, going downstairs for bread, etc. There is no better recipe for increasing his self-esteem than letting him do more and more things for himself and become more independent.
4. Encourage him to make decisions for himself and value his opinion. Would you prefer to go to the park or stay home doing crafts? Do you prefer to paint or play with playdough? What extracurricular activity would you like to sign up for this year? Gradually give him more room to decide. He can participate in decorating his room or choosing his clothes; let him develop his personality…
5. Give him the opportunity to solve problems. If a toy breaks, ask him for ideas to fix it. If you drop an earring in the bathroom, let him help you find it. If the dishwasher breaks, let him help you wash the dishes that day. Give him freedom to take risks (especially as they grow older, so they know they don't need our constant approval, that they are capable of making their own decisions). Hold family meetings from time to time to solve everyday problems and listen to his opinion on how to solve them. It's important that he feels involved in the solution.
6. Propose CHALLENGES OR PROJECTS connected to their hobbies and interests that can be divided into small tasks and that make them persistent in something and then feel the satisfaction of having achieved it. If he likes construction, how about trying to build a pyramid? First it can be flat, then standing, and then three-dimensional. If he likes crafts, you can choose a difficult project and work on it little by little until it's finished. My daughter is now learning to knit with needles, and she's excited about the idea of making a scarf for her sister!
7. Never make fun of him or her if they dare to show you something new they have made, it could be a dance, a drawing, a construction, etc. It may seem silly to you, but if he wants to show it to you, it's because he thinks he has done something important, so don't laugh or you'll make him keep it to himself next time. Take him seriously.
8. Do not compare him to other children or siblings. Each person is unique. That will only hurt him and will not motivate him, but rather the opposite.
9. Don't label him. Banish phrases like "you're lazy," "you're clumsy," and things like that. His attitude can always change, so let him know that. And not only should you not say such things to him, but try not to make those kinds of comments about him to family or friends, even if you don't think so, they hear everything!
10. Encourage him to try new things. The more new things he tries, the more confident he will become in different areas (sports, crafts, books, etc.).
11. Let him know that making mistakes is part of learning. And to show him, nothing beats our example: when we make mistakes, treat ourselves well and draw a positive analysis, "what does this mistake teach me?". It is also important to apologize to them if we have made a mistake with them. And if it is necessary to correct them, always do it in a constructive way and, if possible, privately, avoiding doing it in front of others.
12. Teach them to recognize their successes and to value them. Value the effort and not the result (this is very important). Projecting a positive image of ourselves is done through positive experiences. So value the process (effort, etc.) above all. Value their positive attitudes and behaviors.
13. Encouraging their social relationships and friendships will also help them feel loved and grow their self-esteem.

And you, do you have more ideas to help our children grow up with good self-esteem? I'm all ears :)

If you liked this post, share it!