Building self-esteem is a lifelong process which is established at childhood. The way a child feels about himself/herself is often reflected in how they act. Often times, parents are one of the biggest influences of early self-esteem development. The way that they act and behave around their children on a daily bases is reflected greatly in the way a child feels about himself/herself. So what can parents do in order to ensure that their children grow up with a positive attitude towards life?

One way that a parent can encourage healthy self-esteem in a child is to instill in them a sense of belonging. Make sure that the way you act and talk to your child is always positive. Remember not only to tell your child that you love him or her, but also to show it. Children who are loved by their families are more likely to feel more confident around others. Another way to help your child develop healthy self esteem is to offer them praise when praise is earned. Children learn how well they are doing by the parents’ reactions to their behavior. So if your son or daughter has done something worth praise, make sure that you don’t miss the opportunity to do so. There is a rule which states that a parent should offer praise at least twice as often as they criticize. So if you have to criticize your child on a given day, be sure that you also offer them praise twice that day.

And last but not least, children learn best how to work with others by first learning how to work within the family. So include your child in appropriate family discussions and functions. Also try to give your child a few age appropriate responsibilities. These are just some of the ways that you can ensure that your child will develop healthy self-esteem.