Self Esteem
Meaning
Self esteem is feeling good about yourself and feeling that you are a worthwhile person. While we all have doubts at times, it is important for children to feel OK about themselves most of the time. Self esteem enables them to try new things without too much fear of failing, to reach out and make friends, and to manage problems they are likely to meet along the way. Good self esteem builds a solid foundation for life.
Self esteem and adolescence
In adolescence self esteem can be affected by physical and hormonal changes, and most importantly by how they look or how they think they look. Young people who have a goal in life often do a bit better in the self esteem stakes. So do those whose families are there to support them. Belonging to a group of friends is also very important to adolescents' self esteem. This is why they seem so attached to their mobiles, the internet and the home phone and to wanting to do what their friends are doing.
Increasing self esteem
In an effort to increase your adolescents' self esteem parents can:
- Show that you believe in them and encourage them
- Take an interest in their interests
- Listen to their opinions
- Keep them involved in the family
- Ask their advice or help sometimes to show that you don't have all the answers
- Help them gain the skills to solve their own problems
Special tips for parents
It is important to look after your own self esteem too. It is part of good parenting to let your children see that you feel good about yourself, some special tips include:
- Take time out for yourself regularly
- Spend some time with friends who support you and help you to feel good
- If you have a partner ensure there is regular time to be together
- If your children are growing up, start thinking about branching out into new interests for yourself
Source: Self Esteem (n.d) Retrieved November 11, 2005 , from http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=141&id=1702
