7 tips on how to boost your child's self-esteem

Experts agree that the foundations for healthy self-confidence are laid in childhood. Parents, teachers and friends have an enormous influence on this development. We will show you strategies for everyday parenting that will make your child strong and boost their self-confidence.

1. give your child security for their self-confidence

Only those who know themselves and their feelings can develop strong self-confidence. To achieve this, children need the opportunity to talk about themselves and their perceptions. Regularly ask your child how they are feeling and what they think to show your appreciation.

2. show interest in his thoughts and what is on his mind

Show your child that you take them seriously and are interested in their point of view. This is how to strengthen self-confidence. Ask: «How are you feeling today?»

3. praise positive behaviour

Recognition from parents, teachers and friends is very important for building good self-esteem. It is important to ensure that the praise is authentic. Praise your child's positive behaviour, efforts or strategies, not their successes or grades. This will make your child feel loved for their own sake and not because of their successes. A positive sentence could be: «Great that you kept going until the end, even though you couldn't win any more.» Or: «Ah, you drew the human's toes here, great, they weren't there a fortnight ago.»

4. keep a happiness diary

Every evening, write down together what unusual or new situations your child has dealt with during the day. Perhaps they jumped off a diving board, said something in Italian, made new friends or ran an errand all by themselves for the first time. Every positive experience is recorded and read through again at the end of the agreed time. Then draw a conclusion: «It's great what you've dared to do during this time! I can really see how you are becoming more and more independent and how your self-confidence is growing.»

5. always try out new things

Children need support and help when they doubt themselves in order to strengthen their self-confidence. This happens especially when they are asked to try new things but don't succeed straight away. Always encourage your child to try something new and only offer your help and support when your child is stuck. Say: «Get started, I'll help you if you get stuck.»

6 I love you!

Take the time once a day to hug your child and tell them that you love them. Do not link this expression of love to a success or failure. Show your child that they are loved simply because they are your child. This will boost their self-confidence. Say: «I am very happy that you are my child.»

«You only exist once!» Show your child that they are unique and special. Never compare them with others, as this would undermine their self-esteem. If you emphasise others over your child, you are communicating that your child is not okay and not lovable.

7. «Come on, let's just get up again!»

In order to develop healthy self-confidence, children need to learn early on that mistakes are part of life. Defeats and failures are simply part of it. The sooner children learn this, the easier it is for them to put frustrations behind them and try again. Parents who want to do everything for their children are not doing them any favours. This form of overprotection means that children do not develop inner strength and are unable to deal with problems. «Try again, you're guaranteed to succeed at some point.»