Self-esteem is important for children.  A kid with good self-esteem is more likely to perform to his fullest potential in school, sports, and his community.  Healthy self-esteem makes us happier people, and helping our children develop it while they’re young will help them get the most out of life.

Part of building your child’s self-esteem is praising him or her  when he or she does well and encouraging him or her to keep trying when a mistake is made.  Lots of love and attention will also help.  These things are very important, but it is also important to model good self-esteem for your child.  Your actions and emotions make a big impression on your child, and if he or she sees that  mom has good self-esteem, your child is more likely to have high self-esteem too.

Another good thing about having healthy self-esteem as a parent is that you will be better able to enhance your child’s self-esteem.  If you have a lot of hang-ups about yourself, the time and energy that you are spending on them is not being put toward building your child’s self-image.  But if you feel good about yourself, you can better concentrate on making sure your child feels good about theirself.
How Can I Build My Self-Esteem?

If you’ve had self-esteem problems all your life, you might feel as though it is too late to work on it. But it is never too late. It’s simply a matter of changing your way of thinking.

When someone with bad self-esteem does something wrong, they often beat themselves up over it. A person may call themeselves an idiot (either out loud or to his or herself), and may feel that they can’t do anything right. If you find yourself doing this, step back and think about it for a minute. Everyone makes mistakes, and you have done lots of things right. One mistake is not so bad in the scheme of things.

It may help to write down some things that you’ve accomplished. Writing them will make them seem more concrete. And you’ll also have your list to look back on whenever you need a boost.

Doing something special for yourself is another good self-esteem booster. Taking the time to pamper yourself makes you feel good, and it sends your subconscious the message that you’re worthy of it. Doing things for others is good for your self-esteem, too. So why not volunteer for a non-profit, help a friend in need, or give something to charity.

Taking care of your own self-esteem is good for you and your child. It helps you be a better parent, and it sets a good example for your son or daughter. While it’s important to be concerned about your child’s self-esteem, it’s just as important to work on your own.