3 Great Ways to Help Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem

Last Updated on: 22nd March 2025, 07:47 am

Your Child’s Self-Esteem

Today Tina from MotherGeek is sharing some ways to help build your child’s self-esteem. Modern-day childhoods differ significantly from the childhood most parents will have experienced. 

These days, children have access to thousands of websites, TV shows, and apps – all at just the touch of a button. Although the advancements in technology have enabled children to stay in touch with friends and family, watch their favourite TV shows on demand, and even help with their homework, it has also brought about content that is unsuitable for them or planted the seed of doubt in their minds.

Helping to build your child’s self-esteem can feel like a daunting task. 

Cyberbullying is also an issue that affects teenagers up and down the country; this, combined with the ability to access inappropriate content, photoshopped images, and many other aspects can become increasingly detrimental to children’s self-esteem. 

Of course, the internet isn’t the only thing that can cause a child to have low self-esteem, but whatever the reason, it’s important that as parents we do our bit to help our children to build their self-esteem back up and become happy, confident individuals. 

In this post, we’re going to be looking at 3 ways to help build your child’s self-esteem, so let’s get started.

Be A Good Role Model To Your Child

As with every aspect of your child’s life, they look to you, their parents, for guidance on how to navigate the world. Being a good role model to your child is the first step towards helping your child build their self-esteem. In the face of difficult situations, try to remain calm and open-minded instead of becoming enraged and irrational. 

Children are always watching and learning from their parents, so in order to help them to handle difficult situations with poise and grace, you must present yourself as a role model that they can mimic and base their reactions on. This can be as simple as having a chirpy attitude towards doing tasks that you don’t enjoy, such as doing the washing up, instead of grumbling about it. 

Working on your own self-esteem and actively showing your children that everyone, no matter age, gender, or background, can struggle is also a great way to help your child build their self-esteem. This could be as simple as parents teaching kids about money. 

Be Mindful Of The Language You Use When Talking To Your Child

It’s not often that you will come across someone who takes constant criticism well, so be mindful when using critical language when talking to your children. As an adult, if you were constantly being told that you were lazy or you didn’t try hard enough, you’d start to doubt yourself and your abilities. 

This constant criticism would damage your self-esteem, and the same is true with children. Ban the use of harsh and damaging phrases in your home, such as “you’re useless” and “you’re just being lazy” and instead, replace them with positive and curious language. Try discussing why your children haven’t done their chores instead of accusing them of being lazy, and work towards opening up communication between you and your child.

Teach Your Child How To Practice Self-Care

It’s important to remember that self-care isn’t all about bubble baths and face masks – there’s a lot more to it. It’s actually about taking some time out each day to focus on yourself and reflect on your day’s activities. Self-care is about figuring out what makes you feel happy and finding a way to ensure that you can do that at least once a day. Just as with adults, children need to take some time out each day to focus on self-care in order to build their self-esteem.

Help your child to build their self-esteem by encouraging them to sit down for 30 minutes each day and practice self-care. This activity, combined with working together as a family to build confidence, can work really well for children struggling with low self-esteem. 

Final Thoughts On How To Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem

Sometimes our kids are able to access material that they’re simply not ready to emotionally process yet, or they see content that makes them feel that they are inadequate due to comparing themselves to others. 
In these situations, it can be helpful to tell your kids about times you “weren’t the best”, when you were their age. Possibly even sharing snippets from your own teenage diary entries, when you went through similar things. This can be a great way to build your child’s self-esteem.