How to boost your child’s self-esteem in 2023

 child's self esteem
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We all want to have happy, confident children. Yet with all the recent advice on not to over praise children, this has left many a parent – including myself! – somewhat confused on what we can do to boost our children’s self-esteem.

So the question is, how do we build healthy self-esteem in our children? To help us get to the bottom of that, I’m delighted to welcome back Louise Hoffman Brooks, Family Advisor at Parenting Success Coaching with her insightful advice on how to boost your child’s self-esteem.

Why is helping our children to develop good self-esteem so important?

Because self-esteem refers to the sense of worth we believe ourselves to have. The feeling that we matter in this world. Self-esteem becomes our children’s navigation system – what determines the choices they make in life – whether they seek out things that confirm their worth – or confirm their worthlessness. If I believe I am worthy and valued the choices I make in life and the meaning I ascribe to events like loss, change, failure etc will predominantly reflect this belief.

What can happen when our children lack self-esteem? And what might be the cause of this?

When our sense of worth is compromised – we are more likely to seek out company or experiences that confirm this belief; as a teen – getting into friendship groups that are not good for us. Partners or friends who disrespect us or allowing others to take advantage of us. Self-esteem has been found to buffer against eating disorders, addiction, risky behaviours during the teen years and mood and anxiety disorders.

Can you also share some things we should look out for to indicate that a child struggles may be struggling on this front?

Most of us typically only think of self-esteem as a feeling of not being good enough. Giving up easily, self-loathing, a harsh inner critic and being timid. While this is one aspect of low self-esteem -the underlying feeling of not feeling worthy / enough – is often masked by a boastful exterior. The child who brags, exaggerates, bullies and find it difficult to lose – are often just defenses to help ease the pain of not being okay (as one is).

Is it just children who struggle with low self-esteem who need this boost, or all children?

I think it is useful to think of self-esteem as a more fluid construct. One that exists on a continuum – not a ‘you either have it or you don’t’ thing. Boosting a child’s self-esteem merely refers to adopting new ways of relating to that child. And once we come to see what we can rightly do more of – and what we are currently doing that actually stifles a child’s emerging self-esteem. The idea is that we carry on relating in this way. I always tell my clients and attendees of this workshop that what we are doing / teaching is not a technique– but a child view that all children benefit from being met with.

A lot of people think that boosting a child’s self-esteem is about lavishing them with praise. Is this really the case?

I’m glad you brought that up. For our generation of parents – praise seems to have become synonymous with positive / good parenting. An antidote to nagging and harsher authoritarian parenting styles. And while the intention is always good when we praise our children – the effect is actually the opposite. Excessive praise can make a child deeply insecure. Because if I can be good at something (you are such a good runner) – it follows that I can be bad at it too. The bit that the child will not get to connect with when we only praise – is how it feels to them.

Therefore, while praise has its place – our children benefit far more from acknowledgment. Rather than responding to your child who says ‘Mummy look at me’ while on the swing – with a ‘Wow you’re so good at swinging’. A more appropriate response would be ‘Wow you are swinging high – what can you see from up there?’ / or simply ‘I see you honey’. What the child is asking for in this instance is not praise – but for you to witness their experience – for you to merely see them.

This goes for most everything they do that they wish to share with us; art work, homework, running and climbing. The more we can support our child to become inner-directed – having a stronger sense of self – the less governed they will be by outer direction – what the world thinks of them and values them. Stress, later on in life – is often a result of too much people-pleasing and emphasis on honouring others’ standards and expectations. It divorces us from ourselves.

 child's self esteem
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So what does a parent boosting a child’s self-esteem look like?

More acknowledgment (more I see you) rather than praise. When commenting on the child’s report card – rather than immediately deeming it good/bad – ask the child. What do you think/ feel? Are you proud? Etc. The thinking being; what matters is how we allow our child to measure themselves against their own standards – rather than ours only.

Criticising, comparing and shaming – are all robbers of self-esteem. When we adopt that tone – which is easily done when we are stressed and need things done NOW – our children hear; ‘I’m no good’ / ‘I’m the problem’.

I often feel that getting the balance right between praise, boundaries and support can be a tricky balance to achieve. How do we know if we’re getting it right?

This is a daily balance to strike. The parenting world is full of mean terms for helpful parents; helicopter/curling/ snowflake parents – and I think it is not very helpful to label anyone. Especially when we are all doing the best we can and come from the best intentions. It is my experience that children meet the world how they’ve been met.

Children who have felt supported and appreciated will show behave in ways that reflect this – and likely offer the same to those around them. What makes a child resilient – another word for what we are talking about – is not tough love. Resilience is borne out of knowing that you are not alone. That you have support, love and empathy to fall back on whenever you tried and failed. This does not mean that your every roadblock has been removed for you – because your parents feared that you couldn’t deal with it – but that when you tried your best and failed – you are not alone.

This makes children want to become independent and makes them emotionally resilient. It communicates; I believe in you. Boundaries are not an antidote to loving parenting. Boundaries are loving too and meant to keep us safe. It is hard to be encouraging and supportive if we do not feel free to say no to our child too. The freer we feel to set boundaries in a kind way – the bigger the yes we can give our child too.

 child's self esteem
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Can you share a list of ways parents can boost their self-esteem?

This list could be one of do’s and don’ts as well. But I think we are far more when we look at things we CAN do.. That DO benefit our children.

  • Being present in our children’s lives.
  • Spending quality time with each of our children on a daily basis – without distractions / chores / phones etc.
  • Asking questions out of curiosity – what do you like? What are your thoughts on this? And acknowledging views or ideas that are different from yours.
  • Accepting them for who they are – right now; fear of water, food preferences, temperaments, introversion or extroversion etc.
  • Being kind to ourselves too. Role-modelling a more loving tone – not putting ourselves down (about our weight, abilities etc).

    What other tips or strategies would you recommend?

    A lovely project to do with your child – is an All About Me board. On a piece of cardboard paper – put a picture of your child in the middle – and together with your child add to the paper all the things they love; favourite food/colour, activity, TV program etc. Best friend, skills, achievements etc. You can even ring up grandparents and ask why they love your child. Or ask the teacher – the thing I value most in X is? The idea is that you can add to this project – and your child can even track changes about themselves that they would have otherwise missed. It’s a very bonding thing to do together.

    If you had to give my readers a pep talk about boosting their child’s self-esteem it would be….

    Self-esteem is not a fixed or predetermined from birth. As parents we have the power to influence our children in so many wonderful ways – simply through loving them and helping them strengthen their connection to themselves. The more we meet our children with faith in their innate competences and good intentions – the more we communicate to them that they are already enough. That they matter and that they need no do/achieve anything to earn our love or feel that they add value.

What do you think about this advice to help boost your child’s self esteem? Do share in a comment below.

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About Louise Hoffman Brooks

Originally from Denmark, Louise lives in Surrey with her English husband, Dean and their two children, Freja 5, and Miller 2 ½ who she raises bilingually. Louise holds a BSc Psychology degree from the University of Westminster, London and is a fully qualified Life and Business coach from a leading Danish coaching institute.

Besides having worked on a consultancy basis with children with a diagnosis of Autism, Louise has recently completed a foundation course in counseling and psychotherapy. Louise has since the birth of her second child attended all of Parenting Success’ workshops and has a keen interest in parenting issues and understanding what motivates children and make them thrive.

Do you need parenting support?

Parenting Success offers one to one parent coaching/advising either face to face or via Zoom / Skype. Find out more here.

10 comments

  1. These suggestions are really good. I like the ways it’s ll been worded, makes you think before you speak to a child. My girls could do with a boost so I will take this on board. I try to spend tie with them daily doing something fun where time permits. x

  2. Really interesting piece. I think it’s hard to want too try and change your kids but the best thing is to let them be who they want to be! They want your acceptance.

  3. Oh what a great post Talya. I think it’s incredibly important to help build our little ones self esteem and to teach them to believe it themselves.

  4. Wow, reading the part of praise and seeing your child/acknowledging their actions is really interesting. It seems like second nature to compliment our kids at how well they’re doing, but reading this, I can totally see the merit to simply seeing and accepting that they’ve done soemtbibg and they want you to see it. Definitely going to try this more often at home.

  5. So glad you found this article useful. Look out for some more nuggets of wisdom from Louise coming up on the blog soon! x

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