These days, there are many things that can harm your child’s self-esteem.

In addition to the traditional self-esteem busters of schoolyard bullies, critical teachers and high expectations are imposed by a variety of different social pressures like the pressure to be thin and the pressure to be cool.

Many children might start to feel that they are coming up short in life. As a parent, you might become concerned about your child when he or she says “I can’t do it.”

Since you care about your child’s happiness and since you might fear that your child’s low self-esteem might lead to problems down the road, its understandable that you will be willing to do anything you can to help your child boost his or her self-esteem.

Show that you have good self-esteem

Much of your child’s self-esteem comes from you, especially when your child is younger. Your child can pick up on whether or not you have strong positive values, confidence, creativity and curiosity.

Have realistic expectations

Be aware of what your child is capable of. Focus more on your child’s self growth than on your child’s accomplishments. Parents with disproportionately high expectations will cause your child to become depressed when he or she fails to meet your expectations.

Praise your child

Be sure to give your child praise whenever he or she accomplishes something. Make sure that the praise is for actual accomplishments. When praising your child, focus on the effort that your child put into improving himself or herself rather than on the accomplishment itself.

Respect your child’s individuality

Understand that your child might not have all the same interests and goals as you do. Learn to respect your child’s life choices and successes. Show that you are proud of your child as long as your child’s accomplishments are constructive.

Besides things involving your child’s goals and development, there are several other things that might help or hurt your child’s self-esteem.

• Be sure to have discipline that is fair. Discipline can be a fantastic guide for life, but the rules that you set on your child should have a purpose.
• Teach your child to learn from his or her mistakes.
• Give your child meaningful things to do. Your child probably wants to contribute to the household or the community as long as you explain how your child’s work is important.
• Have a place for displaying your child’s achievements.
• Help your child understand his or her unique worth.

Children want many of the same things that you do. They want to succeed, be loved and be appreciated. All they need is your support and guidance in order to flourish.