How to Affirm Children

Most people can immediately see the difference in a child who is confident and has a healthy self-esteem compared with a kid who is not affirmed at home. Building your child̵7;s self-esteem is like giving him armor against life̵7;s challenges, according to KidsHealth.org. Affirming your child does not need to be difficult or complex. Taking even just a few moments each day to invest in his emotional well-being will help carry him into a well-adjusted adulthood.

Instructions

    • 1

      Speak direct and encouraging words to your child every day. Say ̶0;You are a really good big brother̶1; to reinforce his caring trait or ̶0;I like how you stay focused on a task until you finish it̶1; to bolster his developing work ethic. Honestly praise your child̵7;s accomplishments along with his effort. Put more emphasis on his exertion and task completion than on his success.

    • 2

      Offer plenty of spontaneous affection and physical touch to your child throughout the day to boost her self-esteem. Give hugs, hold hands and snuggle on the couch to read or watch a movie together. Stick notes in your child̵7;s backpack or lunchbox to tell her she is special. Offer back or foot rubs to a child who might be feeling tense or stressed.

    • 3

      Spend quality and quantity time together with your kid and make him feel like an important part of your day. Ask his opinion on different situations, take him out to lunch and show him that he is valuable to you. Carve time out of your schedule to focus on your child even during a busy season of life.

    • 4

      Show your child that she is a valued member of your family. Talk about her viewpoint on a TV program or newspaper article. Ask about her dreams and plans for the future, and open her eyes to the possibilities. Volunteer in the community together to build your child̵7;s self-esteem along with teaching her new life skills.

    • 5

      Make your home a safe, loving haven for each member of your family. Let your child express frustrations and joys to your attentive ears. Work through problems together regarding school, friends and other issues that can affect your child̵7;s self-esteem. Point out that he's special even if he's average at something.

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