Improving Self Esteem: How To Build Self Confidence In Children

A Mother’s Question About Building Self Esteem In Children

 “Emma said to me at bedtime that she thinks that she’s ugly. I’m not exactly sure where she heard this since I’m always telling her how cute she is, but what would you say to your kids if they said that?”

 Nicholeen’s Answer:

 I am wondering if she has heard lots of talk about beauty from friends at school. Maybe some friends always talk about how pretty certain class mates are, and she is never mentioned or something like that.

Usually issues like this appear to be self-worth problems, but are usually social issues. A girl who is surrounded by talk about beauty can assume she isn’t pretty even if no one says anything mean.

Many people are groomed these days to base their worth off of feed back from others. If a person gets in the habit of that they will always end up needing low self-esteem help. An important skill to know is how to improve your self-esteem. This skill is essential for proper self-government. We really do have control over our own self-confidence. Continue reading

Positive Parenting: Justice or Mercy?

The Parenting Question

Justice or mercy? That is the question. When your child gets frustrated at his sister and hits her does he need justice or mercy? When your youth comes home from a date after curfew does she need justice or mercy? How do parents balance these two truths? Which principles are the parent secrets for raising children? Is justice or mercy the key for how to become a good parent? Continue reading

How To Correct Children: Inviting Good Behaviors

 

Situation One

 

A mother says, “Alice I need you to take out the garbage.”

 

Alice rolls her eyes and walks away. She has obviously made up her mind not to follow the instruction.

 

Mother feels Alice needs some correction so she says, “Don’t you look at me like that! Your behavior is disrespectful! Get back here and take out this trash or you will not get to play with friends today.”

 

Debrief

 

I could discuss the flaws in this interaction at length, but for this article I want to bring your attention to one part of the interaction; Continue reading

How To Stop Getting Angry: Relaxation Breathing Techniques.

  

Mom, I’m going to go to Zack’s to play basketball. Is that okay?” Quinton, age fifteen, announced this morning.

 

I replied, “Quin, you have things to do here at home today, so I don’t think we will have time for friends until another day.”

 

Quin really wanted to go shoot hoops with his friend. What fifteen year old boy doesn’t? His mouth closed, his cheek muscles tightened, and his eyes narrowed. Then something miraculous happened. Continue reading