Childhood is a key stage of life in many ways. Not only do you learn the basic workings of reality, but you lay the foundation for what you know about yourself. That is why it is very important to know how to help children to improve their self-esteem , to which this article is dedicated.

Helping children have good self-esteem

When one is small and has few resources to face the challenges posed by the world, the role of the fathers, mothers, older siblings or guardians should not be limited to acting as a protective shield, that is, to prevent something bad from coming into contact with the perception of the younger ones.

This is because it is impossible to protect completely, on the one hand, and because without the possibility of fitting certain setbacks in life, one reaches adulthood without the ability to manage emotionally (or even cognitively) complicated situations.

Therefore, children’s lives must be a balance between protection and the possibility of learning as they go to overcome difficulties. But in this harmony it is relatively easy for some experiences to undermine their self-esteem, since there will always be room for a situation to overcome them due to their relative vulnerability.

Therefore, it is good to monitor the development of their self-esteem, intervening when self-esteem is low. How to do this? Below you will find several basic recommendations, although all of them must be adapted to the specific context in which the minor lives.

1. Help him find friends with his interests

In childhood, simply not fitting in with a group of peers because of hobbies, can mean being excluded and isolated . But, fortunately, as adults we can help children to find other children in their environment with whom they can get along and share interests.

2. Recognizes their achievements

Lack of time need not be an obstacle to congratulating the little ones on their achievements. After all, the whole stage of childhood is a constant learning process , so it will be easy to have moments like this, and many of them can even have a special meaning for the youngest in the house.

3. Do not label them

Making them assume a label that defines who they are is a mistake, since it encourages them not to set goals and objectives beyond the limited repertoire of roles and attitudes expected of them. That is why, from their point of view, everything in which they perceive that they fail may be attributable to the limitations related to their supposed essence .

4. Spend time together

Something that also serves to reinforce children’s self-esteem is making them see that they are important to us and that we care about their point of view, their opinions, their interests… If this is accompanied by the expression of affection, they will feel more supported.

5. Helps you take care of yourself

Even in childhood, the effect of living a healthy life has an impact on self-esteem. It is not a question of fitting into the canons of what is considered aesthetic , but rather that by being healthy we feel more energetic and capable of facing the day to day.

Therefore, a healthy and balanced diet, an adequate level of hygiene and the practice of regular exercise are your allies.

6. Avoid comparisons

At such a young age, it is difficult to fully understand the nuances required to constructively assimilate a comparison with other people, especially if the latter are your age. It is therefore better to avoid comparisons. Among other things, because they can also end up working as a way of labelling and limiting your possibilities.

7. Encourage him to develop projects

Proposing projects and seeing their progress is an excellent way of improving self-esteem at any age, since allows you to see what you are capable of . Therefore, it is good that children do it from a young age: not everything is based on working on the tasks that are obligatory because of school.