10 Great Tips for Boosting Childhood Self Esteem

Hey folks! 🙋‍♀️ I know, I know, raising kiddos ain’t easy.

But let me tell you, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching your little ones grow into confident, self-assured individuals.

And one of the best ways to help them get there is by boosting childhood self esteem.

Now, before we dive in, let me just say that self esteem ain’t no magic potion. It’s not something you can just sprinkle on your child and poof they’re confident. But, there are definitely some things you can do to give them a boost in the self esteem department.

First things first, let’s talk about what childhood self esteem actually is. Essentially, it’s the way we view ourselves. It’s the thoughts and feelings we have about ourselves and our abilities. And, just like with anything else, the way we view ourselves can change.

So, without further ado, here are my top tips for boosting childhood self esteem:

Boosting Childhood Self Esteem

Give carefully placed and specific praise

Don’t underestimate how powerful a compliment or praise can be, especially from a parent. Your child wants to know they’re doing a good job, that their efforts are appreciated, and have encouragement to keep going. It can really boost their confidence when you praise them when they work hard, whether they “won” or not. This shouldn’t be empty praise given constantly, but rather when your child puts in an effort to do something or try something new. For example, don’t say, “You’re such a great kid! You did such a wonderful job on that project.” Instead, get specific. Try pointing out their effort and the specific things they did well.

For example, you could say,

• The detail you included in your drawing makes it looks life like.
• You ran really hard after that ball! Good hustle!
• You sharing your crackers with your sister put a smile on her face.
• Putting your toys away today was a big help. Thank you!

I hope you get the idea. Pointing out the specific things your child does well helps boost childhood self esteem because it helps them learn how to meet expectations, how to get along with others, and what they are good at. It encourages them to do more of those things, too.

Allow your children to make choices

Believe it or not, you can boost childhood self-esteem when they are left to make their own choices, within reason of course! You want them to understand that in life, there are many choices, and you have so much confidence in them, you believe they will make the right ones. If you never let your child make any decisions in their younger years, they don’t really gain this type of confidence in themselves. In fact, helicopter parenting tends to produce children with greater anxiety, not less. So, relax! Let your child make age-appropriate decisions and take some reasonable risks. If they make a bad choice, then read on…

Teach there are no mistakes or failures, only learning opportunities

There are immoral or unethical choices, which often require parental discipline or intervention. But, poor choices kids make have their own natural consequences and teach your child something. You can boost childhood self esteem by teaching your child that failure is a learning opportunity, not an end. What did he learn? What will he do the next time a similar situation comes up?

Give opportunities for volunteering or giving back

Giving back offers many benefits, some of which boost childhood self esteem. When a child sees how they can help someone else, how they are needed and add value to the world, they feel like they can make a difference. They feel valued. These feelings encourage and uplift your child, helping them see their self worth and that people need what they have to offer. This leads to understanding their own purpose and fulfillment. And of course, then they want to do it more and it becomes a wonderful cycle.

Discourage comparison

Comparing themselves with other kids (or hearing you compare them to other kids, even their own siblings) is deadly to self esteem. A child never feels good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, athletic enough….you get the picture. Help your child see that everyone has something to contribute, a unique gift to the world that only they can bring.

Encourage appropriate challenge to develop childhood self esteem

With the emphasis on achieving more at younger ages, children easily get stressed out. This leads to poor self esteem and low confidence. We don’t want that! So, it’s especially important to make sure we are challenging kids at an appropriate level. This means enough that they have to stretch themselves a little, but not so much that it is out of reach. If we don’t challenge them at all, they don’t see what they’re capable of and don’t learn to push themselves to their own potential. Boosting childhood self esteem means helping kids develop confidence in their abilities.

Practice positivity and kindness

Boosting childhood self esteem also means teaching them to be humble. Raise your child to be a kind, gentle, honest person, maybe even having a daily gratitude practice. Part of that practice can be extending kindness and gratitude to themselves, maybe even writing a “I am” poem once a year or so. (This can also be a great timeline keepsake! Hint, hint) They should understand the importance of maintaining positivity and light, even when the world seems a little dark. Through gratitude and focusing on the positive in their lives, they are more apt to take better care of themselves and be content. These are essential ingredients in high self esteem.

Spend one-on-one quality time with each child separately

Spending one-on-one time with each child tells them that you value them just for being them. Giving them your undivided attention doing something meaningful and fun boosts childhood self esteem by showing them that you love them just as they are. Kids need to know that they don’t need to earn your love, that they don’t need to perform to have value.

Be a good role model for self confidence

If you want your child to grow up with confidence, you have to show by example. Be someone who doesn’t put yourself down. They’re listening to your self talk!

Put in an effort, try new challenging things, and talk with your child when you fail at something, to tell them you’re not upset because you put in the effort. Your children are watching everything you do and going to take after you, even when you don’t realize it.

Keep an open line of communication

Lastly, try to keep communication open between you and your children. Don’t force them to tell you things, but always let them know they can talk to you about anything, without judgment or ridicule. They never need to feel embarrassed. Knowing more about what your kids are going through makes it easier for you to help them find their confidence in areas where it might be lacking.

Now, boosting your child’s self-esteem ain’t gonna happen overnight. But, by implementing these tips and being consistent, you can give your child the tools they need to become a confident, self-assured individual.

And, as a parent, ain’t nothing more rewarding than that!

In conclusion, self-esteem is a vital part of our mental and emotional health, and it is crucial that we take the necessary steps to help our children develop a positive self-image.

Boosting your child’s self-esteem is not a one-time event, it’s a continuous effort and by following the tips mentioned in this post, you can help your child grow into a confident and successful adult.