Ten Great Ways to Increase Your Child's Self Esteem (Besides Saying 'I Love You.')

10. Do little things for your child. Smile when you 'catch' her looking at you, listen to his concerns instead of saying something that downplays his concerns' importance, take pictures, tell stories about your childhood. Be a person, and not just a parent, to your child.

9. Find an ongoing project you and your child can do together. This could include care of your own pet, visiting a nursing home on a regular basis, writing letters for a set of elderly people, walking a home bound person's dog, and many other things. This teaches your child many things, including commitment to another person is much more than a chore, and that it can be quite enjoyable.

8. Never be afraid to apologize when you've made a mistake. Your children will respect that you owned up to it, instead of avoided taking responsibility.

7. Don't apologize when you don't mean it, and never force your child to apologize. Encourage only true apologies. If your child doesn't feel remorseful, there may be more to the situation than you realize.

6. Truly enjoy being in your child's company. Children can tell quite easily when you are distracted, bored, tired, or just otherwise not into being around them. If you are feeling inattentive, make sure you explain to your child that it isn't him or her, but rather other things that have your attention right then. Make special time for them when you are able to give them your complete attention.

5. Help your child when he or she really needs it, and with the disclaimer that you know he or she was giving it a good shot. Letting him or her know it is ok to ask for help when it is really needed, prevents a child from refusing to ask for help later in life when it should be sought.

4. Avoid negative talk without some sort of problem solving. There are many negative things in life, but including problem solving methods teaches several things, and include not being overwhelmed, step-by-step problem solving, realistic thinking, and acceptance of not only situations in life, but also acceptance of others your child will find to be different from him or her.

3. Make up silly songs with your child, from birth (if possible, but it's never too late to start), and continue making up new songs with them on a regular basis, until they insist you stop!

2. Make a clubhouse with your child, and encourage his or her input. Building something permanent with one's own two hands is one of those few things in life that builds a 'can-do' attitude and also great and ongoing memories.

1. Believe in yourself, your skills and abilities, and your worth as not only a parent, but as a person.