Making a difference in the world and helping others are the best inoculations against poor self esteem for children. Having a sense of purpose, knowing that you can influence others and give back, creates a sense of self efficacy for children that leads to great self esteem. Additionally, having meaningful activities decreases boredom, isolation, and self-centeredness.
Kids today are fighting an uphill battle. They are growing up in an increasingly superficial and disconnected world. They are bombarded with messages from the media telling them what they should buy, wear and look like and that has left kids feeling empty, unfulfilled and bad about themselves.
Parents are not faring much better. Confused about how to raise self-motivated and connected children, out-influenced by today’s media and unsure of how to make fair, consistent boundaries, modern parents face bigger challenges than previous generations.
Raising a child who makes a difference in the world requires mothers and fathers to: parent in very conscious ways, foster a sense of self efficacy in their kids, help children to discover their passions, teach their children how to delay gratification, reduce entitlement and, of course, model the behavior they hope to see in their children. I never said it would be easy!
(More... for the 10 steps)
(More... for the 10 steps)
Dr. Jenn Berman is the author of two LA Times best selling books- SuperBaby: 12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years and The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy Confident Kids. Her first children’s book Rockin’ Babies was released May 2011 and won the prestigious Purple Dragonfly award. She can be heard live on the Cosmo Channel on Sirius XM channel 109 every night from 5-7 pm PST. Dr. Jenn has a private psychotherapy practice in Beverly Hills and is a wife and mother of twins. For more information go to www.DoctorJenn.com.
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