Building your child’s self-esteem is an important part of parenting. Positive self-esteem is critical for your child to be successful academically, socially and emotionally. As a parent you can nurture and empower your child to be themselves and be comfortable in their uniqueness. Here are some ways that you can build your child’s self-esteem:

• Give praise and affirmation: Parents tend to frequently tell children when they have done something wrong, but often don’t balance this out with the same amount of positive messages. When praising your child, provide specifics comments about the behavior or attribute you are praising.
  
  
• Teach good decision-making skills: When your child needs to make a decision, help them by discussing the problem and possible solutions. Help them think through the consequences of each potential choice. When your child chooses a course of action, respect their decision. If your child becomes dissatisfied with the results, you can then discuss how they could have done things differently.
  
  
• Listen to your child: Take time to have conversations with your child. Listen to what they have to say and take them seriously; even though you may think they are being childish and unrealistic. Children have feelings, opinions, and emotions and it is important not to dismiss what they have to say.
  
  
• Encourage your child’s interests: Parents need to take notice of what their children are interested in and encourage them in those interests. When possible, give them a variety of experiences related to the interest. It is important to encourage children to follow their dreams.
  
  
• Be there: Spend time with your child. Parents are the most important people in the lives of children. For a child it is important that their parents are present for both the small and large milestones in life. Take time to have fun, be silly and play with your child. Quality and quantity of time are important. Create many happy memories.