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Home › Articles › Development › Boosting Self-Esteem

Boosting Self-Esteem

Raising Children Who Feel
Good about Themselves

By Laura Cone

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Also, be careful how you handle correcting one child in front of his or her siblings. Don't make comparisons between siblings, he says. "The way we handle what we say about siblings can deeply affect children's self-esteem," says Dr. Sparrow, pointing out that parents need to correct their child in private.

Setting Boundaries
Lori Bruce, the director of the Children's Corner at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Mass., says parents can do more damage to their child's self-esteem by giving in to every demand instead of setting proper boundaries. Bruce, who has a 16-month-old son, Connor, says parents need to know when to say "no."

"Sometimes what you see is parents who give in, give in, give in," Bruce says. "They give, give, give. Whatever you want, whatever you need. That's a scary world for a child. They have too much control. You have to have a balance and know [where the boundaries are]. If it means you have to walk out of the grocery store, you have to walk out." Bruce says parents also can boost their toddler's self-esteem by loving their child just as he or she is. Try not to judge your child, she says.

"I think we worry, 'Does she have enough language?'" Bruce says. "And then we push [and say] I'm going to teach this and teach that or is she too shy or is he too aggressive or do I need to make him more compassionate, as opposed to just loving your child for who he is." Bruce says parents need to agree on what is important in terms of household rules, and then respond in a consistent way so your toddler feels safe. "If children feel safe they feel good about themselves," she adds.


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