Do you know what the best feeling is in the world? Knowing you gave a kid something they’ll cherish forever.
Who doesn’t like getting gifts? There’s just something about the look on their face when they realize what you’ve given them. We provide our kids presents every once in a while, but did you know that one of the best feelings is giving them self-esteem?
There’s no better gift you can give your kid than to help them feel good about themselves. They’re more likely to make positive choices and handle life’s challenges if they feel good about themselves.
How do you get your child to develop this characteristic?
Here are five things to get you started.
Children need to have self-esteem because it shapes how they see themselves and others see them. While self-esteem is partly genetic, you can do a lot as a parent to help your child.
1. Praise their effort instead of their talent
When it comes to building kids’ self-worth, praise is critical.
However, praising them only on their ability can lead them to develop an “internalized fixed mindset,” which sees intelligence as something permanent and not something that gets better.
Because of this, a child may fear challenges because they don’t feel smart enough.
Meanwhile, praising your child for their effort rather than ability helps them develop a “growth mindset.”
A growth mindset views intelligence as malleable, not based on innate qualities.
Instead of saying “you’re so smart,” say “you worked hard on that.”
Don’t compare your child to anyone else.
2. Don’t give empty praise
It’s easy to get caught up using empty praise.
Hypocritical, insincere, or exaggerated praise for a child’s behavior or ability is empty praise.
If your kid got an A on their math test, you wouldn’t say, “you’re so smart.”
Instead of using this form of praise, try encouraging your kid with simple words that acknowledge the work they do.
3. Don’t be your kid’s biggest fan
Being overprotective seems like the best way to make sure your kid succeeds.
You stop your kid from developing resilience and independence if you’re their biggest fan.
It might seem harmless to be your kid’s biggest fan, but it stunts their growth.
There will be times when you disagree or have to discipline them.
If you’re always on their side, they won’t see themselves as accountable for their actions.
Encourage your kids to be growth-minded by not overprotecting or praising them.
That’ll stop them from building self-esteem.
Conclusion:
Giving kids self-esteem is hard, but it’s worth it.
It’s your job to make sure your kids have a good life. Giving them a sense of self-worth is the best way to help them.
Empty praise, praising your child for effort rather than ability, and being their biggest fan all can make that hard.
Try praising your child when they fail instead of giving them stuff.
These simple changes will help your child develop a healthy sense of self-esteem.
Now you know to stop praising your kid and encourage their growth mindset.
When it comes to raising kids, one of the most important things is to avoid giving them too much praise.
Excessive praise can lead them to become arrogant and narcissistic.
It’s better to stop praising kids and encourage their growth mindset if you want them to succeed.
What’s the future gift you’re giving your kids?
Share your thoughts in the comments.