Children and Confidence: How to Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem

Ten-year-old Joshua is a shy kid. He is withdrawn and rarely plays with other kids his age. He always thinks that the other kids are better than him. At home and in school, he does not talk much. Moreover, he hardly smiles. The young boy seems to be carrying a burden to heavy for him to bear.

Joshua is only one of many children suffering from a low self-esteem. Defined as "a confidence and satisfaction in oneself," self-esteem influences all areas of a person's life. It affect's his attitudes, his behaviors, and his dealings with other people.

Good news! You can help your child get improve his low self-esteem. Here are a few steps on how to boost your child's self-esteem:

Be affectionate to your child. Increase your emotional connection with the power of touch. Hugging your child will help relax his tenseness. It will also demonstrate your love and your care.

Be generous with praises. If your child did well or did something good, praise him. Tell him how proud you are of what he has achieved. Also, encourage him to do more by letting him know that he has what it takes.

Avoid hurtful words. When some parents are mad at their child, too much anger causes some ugly and hurtful words to slip. Control your temper. Shouting or cursing at your child will do no good. It will only hurt his feelings and cause him to withdraw more.

Schedule regular family bonding sessions. Occasions like this will encourage the sharing not only of time, but ideas and experiences among family members. Through this, the child will see that he has a solid family who will support him.

Respect your child's opinion. Listen to what he has to say. Encourage him to talk openly about his thoughts and feelings. This will make him more comfortable to reach out to other people.