With a balanced self-esteem, your child will not only turn out to be confident, they will also be able to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and still feel great about themselves. A healthy self-esteem also prevents them from feeling intimidated when someone tries to bully them.
Children who bully others are looking for someone who will respond to their painful and disturbing words and actions. Kids who are weak, shy and lack confidence are the common prey of these bullies. But if your kid shrugs off a bully’s strike, refuses to respond or takes it lightly, your child will be less likely to be a target again.
Promoting a healthy self-esteem in your child has other benefits too. For example, a strong self-esteem most likely prevents your child from the problems of drugs, alcohol and destructive relationships. Here are some ways on how to develop self-esteem in your child:
Make sure you spend time with your child.
When you give your child some quality time, you are communicating how important he or she is to you. When your child feels that they are valued, you are setting up a solid foundation for building their self-esteem. Hanging out together also allows you to build a strong connection with your child. Your relationship with them is essential when they get into the teenager years and face more life challenges.
Get your child engaged in activities that boost confidence.
When your child feels confident about a certain part of their life, this mindset will most likely be carried over into other aspects, decreasing the possibility of being bullied. Any pleasant activity wherein your child performs exceptionally well will develop their confidence. Help your child enhance their strengths by developing their talents.
Allow your child to deal with frustration and make mistakes.
Encourage them to take risks. Try not to overprotect or shield them from the world’s difficulties. The objective is to allow your child to encounter difficulties and downfalls without feeling insecure. Instead, educate your child on how to learn from misfortunes and move on. Doing so will go a long way in fostering resilience your child. Teach your child that mistakes are learning opportunities which are a good thing.
Your love for your child won’t mean anything if you don’t show it to them.
Tell your child that you are extremely pleased of their presence in your life and that are you are truly proud of them. Make your child understand that perfection is not essential, and that hard work is going to help them succeed in life. A child who sees themselves as enough, loved and competent will not feel less worthy without the achievements of others.
Encourage your child to offer their time in worthwhile activities.
It can be very fulfilling and satisfying for your child to help even in their own little way. Simple tasks like preparing meals, keeping their bed clean and organised or even taking care of the family pet can help them feel valued and important. These tasks also help them become a more responsible individual.
Recognize your child’s excellent behavior and achievements.
Many times, parents focus too much on correcting bad actions and choices to a point that they fail to remember to spot the great stuff their children do. Often, children won’t believe in themselves and their capabilities unless they receive positive acknowledgement when they do something right. Remember to recognise your child’s strengths and reinforce them.
Smart Parenting and Giving Your Kid a Sound Advice.
Many children are not normally confident. Communicate to him or her that it’s good to take a stand for yourself. It’s also essential to show your child the distinction between being confident and being aggressive. Help them understand that aggressive children try to overpower other individuals to think like or act like them. Meanwhile, confident children are well-mannered and appreciate the diversity that comes of other children. An assertive child can defend themselves when someone says or does something painful. This teaches your children to become positive leaders in the future.
In a nutshell, a child’s best weapon against bullying is their foundation at home – how they are raised by their parents, the environment they live in, how much they are valued as an important member of the family and the entire community. When a child’s self-esteem is properly built, they will be equipped enough to fight against bullies and strong enough to determine when and how to act against bullying.
