Your child’s perception of themselves, including their strengths and weaknesses, often begins long before they ever enter a childcare center. Building self-esteem during these critical developmental years helps little ones boost their confidence, feel loved and valued at home and at school, and learn how to form healthy relationships with their peers. Here are a few key strategies to reinforce positive self-esteem with your children at home!
Positive Affirmations
Words of affirmation, like “I’m proud of how you handled that” or “I appreciate you helping me,” show your child that they are seen, heard, and appreciated! Using these affirmations helps children begin to form positive thought patterns, specifically about themselves, that grow their self-confidence over time.
Encourage Independence
As a parent, the word “independence” might seem scary when you think about your young child, but age-appropriate decision-making actually helps children learn to trust themselves! Even small decisions, like what outfit to wear or what to have for lunch, help your child develop discernment skills and feel a sense of accomplishment by taking ownership of their own actions. This practice, in turn, helps them approach new situations and decisions with increased confidence!
Process Praise
Even as adults, it can feel frustrating when we aren’t able to do something as perfectly as we’d like. For children, this perfectionism can sometimes feel like failure! Instead, try using process praise that instead focuses on acknowledging effort, improvement, or simply the courage to try! Phrases like, “I know that didn’t go as well as you would have liked, but I’m proud of you for giving it a shot anyway,” can help children build confidence in their ability to overcome challenges and solve problems, even if it takes time.
Model Confidence
Parents are often a child’s first teachers, and more often than not, you will see your child start to imitate the behaviors they see in you! Helping your child develop their confidence sometimes means being a model of self-confidence for them. Acknowledging your strengths and the things you’d like to work on can show children that they don’t have to be perfect, and by both expressing feelings and resolving conflicts with confidence, your child will begin to follow suit!
Here at Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center, we’re passionate about advocating for your little ones and helping them grow into strong, confident adults. We value our relationships with parents and believe that, together, we can help children build the confidence to truly believe they are capable, valued, and loved!