Helping boost your child’s self-esteem is one of the greatest and most beneficial things a parent can do! At Drama Kids International, we specialize in helping children develop and grow life skills such as creative thinking, leadership, and public speaking, as well as helping them discover ways to build up their self-confidence and self-esteem.
Since much of the real work is done at home, we thought it would be beneficial to share some ways parents can help boost their child’s self-esteem! Here are some things to take into consideration:
Don’t jump into rescue mode too often. We all want to be there to fix our childrens’ problems and make sure that their struggles in life are limited, but it’s important to allow them to face difficult experiences from time to time without playing the rescuer. By constantly rescuing your kids, you aren’t doing them any favors later in adulthood. Also, by allowing them to experience a trying situation, you are helping them become more empowered, which can be directly linked to their self-esteem.
It’s not always about praise. In 2017, researchers discovered that lavish praise is not the best way to build up a child’s self-esteem, but that instead, warmth is the key. Instead of inflated praise, children who experience warmth and encouragement from their parents have been found to have higher levels of self-esteem.
Make sure they feel loved and accepted. Yes, we know this is a no-brainer, but it’s still worth discussing! A child that feels loved and accepted is one who flourishes, so make sure that you are finding ways to express that love, without distractions, daily.
Encourage their talents. All children have something they are good at and something that they would like to improve on. Parents can encourage them to embrace those talents, and also spend some quality time with their child to help them get even better!
Don’t do everything for them. It’s natural to want to take care of your kids and cater to their needs, but a parent’s role is not to be their maid or waitress. If you do too much for your children, their drive and initiative could suffer. We want to raise responsible, independent children, and that cannot be obtained by waiting on them hand and foot. If your children can get their own breakfast or lunch ready, let them – encourage and embrace their abilities and begin nurturing that independence.
We all know the major role self-esteem plays in our lives and how important it is for children to develop a strong self-esteem early on in life. Without self-confidence and self-esteem, children are left vulnerable to a world that can often be more cruel than it is kind.
Along with your excellent parenting skills, Drama Kids International is able to step up and help your child build up that self-esteem through our specialized drama classes. Come find out why the “difference is dramatic” today!