What Can a Person Do for a Child With Insecurities?

Establish Regular Routines

• Children need consistency and predictability in their lives in order to feel emotionally secure. Dr. Laura Markham, parenting expert and founding editor of Aha! Parenting.com, points out that a regular daily routine gives a child a sense of security because like adults, children fear the unknown. Knowing what to expect helps kids feel safe as unexpected changes can make them feel anxious and less able to cope with difficult situations when they arise. Routines also give children a sense of control. A child who is certain about what's going to happen next is able to concentrate more on what is happening in the present moment.

Increase Confidence

• Healthy self-esteem is an essential component of children̵7;s overall well-being, because how kids feel about themselves affects how they behave, notes AskDrSears.com. It̵7;s important for a parent to be aware of her own self-concept as a child̵7;s sense of worth is strongly associated with how a mother sees herself, especially in the early years. Kids can sense a parent̵7;s unhappiness and they often blame themselves for this. Consequently, they may feel insecure. KidsHealth says that building your own self-esteem gives your child a positive role model to mirror so that she will develop more self-confidence herself.

Manage Stress

• The ability to manage stress helps kids feel happier and more secure. A 2012 American Academy of Pediatrics report notes that free play has a critical role in helping children manage stress. In fact, when families do not engage in enough free time activities together, it can actually cause stress in kids. As they play and interact with family members and their environments, children develop a sense of belonging that makes them feel safer and more secure. The AAP report suggests that while it̵7;s important to encourage kids to fully develop their potential, allowing them free time and not pushing them far beyond their comfort zone helps them become more resilient and better able to cope with stress.

Establish Family Traditions

• Family rituals and traditions help establish a child's security. TV personality and life strategist Dr. Phil McGraw suggests families celebrate special days and events together. Regular rituals like reading stories each evening or attending weekly worship services together can be just as meaningful. Traditions and rituals are an integral part of family life as they give both children and adults a sense of constancy and stability, especially during times of change. The sense of belonging associated with traditions such as weddings, birthday parties, holiday gatherings, graduation parties, family picnics or Sunday dinner helps kids feel secure in their world.