Building your child’s self-worth

Practical Tips to Build Your Child’s Self-Worth from a Play Therapist
In the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, we thought we would share some ideas to nurture your child’s self-love and self-worth. Building a child's self-worth is important for their emotional well-being and overall development. As a parent or caregiver, there are several practical strategies you can implement to support and enhance your child's self-worth.

1. Unconditional Love and Support: Show your child unconditional love and support. Communicate your acceptance of them regardless of their successes or failures. This helps them feel valued and appreciated for who they are as individuals. You can show unconditional love in many different ways including actively listening to your child, spending quality time together, displaying empathy, apologising when needed or expressing affection with hugs and cuddles.

2. Encouragement and Positive Reinforcement: Encourage your child's efforts and accomplishments. Provide genuine praise and positive reinforcement to boost their self-confidence and self-esteem.

3. Promote Positive Self-Talk: Teach your child to recognize and challenge negative self-talk. Encourage them to replace self-critical thoughts with positive affirmations to foster a healthy internal dialogue.

4. Set Realistic Expectations: Avoid imposing unrealistic expectations on your child. Instead, set achievable goals and celebrate their progress. This helps prevent feelings of inadequacy and promotes a sense of mastery.

5. Foster Independence and Decision-Making: Allow your child to make age-appropriate decisions and learn from their experiences. Empowering them to take on responsibilities builds confidence and a sense of competence.

6. Create a Safe and Nurturing Environment: Cultivate a safe and nurturing home environment where your child feels secure expressing their thoughts and emotions. Open communication fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance.

7. Teach Problem-Solving Skills: Help your child develop problem-solving skills to navigate challenges and setbacks. Equipping them with coping strategies and resilience reinforces a sense of efficacy and capability.

8. Model Healthy Self-Worth: Children often model the behaviour of significant adults in their lives. Demonstrate healthy self-worth through self-care, healthy boundaries, and positive self-talk.

While these tips can help nurture a child’s self-worth, it's essential to recognise that each child is unique. By implementing these practical tips you can play a pivotal role in nurturing your child's self-worth and resilience. At Inspiring Play, we nurture all of these skills in our play therapy sessions to foster your child’s well-being and sense of self.

Nurturing Self-worth: Inspiring Play - Sunshine Coast Play Therapy Queensland

References:

Huppert, F. A., & Johnson, D. M. (2010). A controlled trial of mindfulness training in schools: The importance of practice for an impact on well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(4), 264-274.

Leary, M. R., Tambor, E. S., Terdal, S. K., & Downs, D. L. (1995). Self-esteem as an interpersonal monitor: The sociometer hypothesis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(3), 518-530.