Our children are our country’s future. Without proper training, they will not learn the skills passed down from the older generation, and they will not learn to advance which is what we expect of our children. It is important that parents, teaching staff and our friends all help in building Self-Esteem in a child.
Parents should begin at home by showering affection by rewarding good deeds and also acknowledging them, whilst untoward behavior must be met in a subtle, but effective manner.
Helene Goldnadel says that self-esteem isn’t just about giving words of encouragement. You should also teach your child to become independent – parents can do this by allowing their child to learn a new hobby, sport or musical instrument.
When a child is old enough, they may want to take on a paper round, or carry out chores like mowing the lawn for extra pocket money, which teaches them what it is to work hard, rather than it being carried out by you or another member of the family. It also gives them satisfaction if they are helping family out.
Parents must always keep an open mind when communicating with their child. School can encourage untoward behavior, as they mix with other children and they may give in to peer pressure. Your child may think that something is cool when it is actually a silly prank, so legal guardians have to remain vigilant at all times.
In school, teachers serve as your child’s legal guardians. Grades are just one way of measuring how well a child is progressing or not; look out for evaluation exams or disciplinary records that other institutions may administer. This gives you a fuller picture and a better understanding of how well a child is developing.
If your child is getting low grades, or getting into fights, this can be very alarming. A child’s low Self-Esteem could be down to their not digesting what is taught in class or it could be that there is a problem at home. This matter, would involve calling in the parents and principal, and sometimes even a Child Psychologist.
Children make lots of new friends in school. Some may even become lasting friendships that last a lifetime. Building Self-Esteem in a child also involves making sure that they hang out in the right crowd. Being with people who share the same values as well as being different, all help to make someone into a law abiding citizen.
Parents are usually to blame if they don’t encourage Self-Esteem in their child, and seemingly become a part of the ‘Mob Culture’ of today’s society. Numerous teens that have been arrested as part of a group involved in shooting sprees around the country, have been tried as adults once a case has been brought to court.
Self-Esteem is not something that is inherited at birth. It is developed at those crucial early years by words of encouragement and actions. Is there such a thing as too much praise?
Some people agree that there is as failures can also teach a person to learn more and become a stronger person than they were to start with.
Is it ever too late for anyone to build up their Self-Esteem? The answer is no, as we continue to learn whilst we are still alive, so one can always evolve into a better person!
