Children’s self-esteem issues are increasing as society is putting more and more pressure on children and young people to look, act and be a certain way. Social media, bullying, exam pressure and family problems can all impact children’s self-esteem.
Self-esteem is how a child feels about themselves and this can affect they way they interact with others and the world around them. Most children will slip into low self-esteem mode when faced with challenges and changes in life such as illness, moving house, parent’s divorce and bereavement and may need some support to get through.
Symptoms of low self-esteem
Lack of confidence
Feel alone and isolated
Struggle with new activities and change
Struggle to make and keep friends
Struggle with failure
Inability to be proud of their achievements
Put themselves down often
Compare themselves to others negatively
Tips to build good self-esteem
Encourage your child to see and appreciate their uniqueness
Show lots of love and encouragement and remind them what makes them special
Model good self-esteem and use positive words when talking about yourself and others
Encourage them to try out new activities and learn new skills
Encourage them to have a go at something and it is ok to fail or not get it right
Make lists of all their achievements and note how hard they worked
Reassure your child that making a mistakes is normal and no-one is perfect
Talk more and ask how they feel, talking about their ideas and what went well each day
Check them when they criticise themselves
Encourage a growth mindset approach and instead of saying ‘I can’t do it’ say ‘I can’t do it yet and I will try my best’.