Self esteem is how a person perceives oneself. Often children have a low self-esteem and they think they are not good for anything. Children with low self-esteem are not confident and have a low sense of self-worth. This can affect their academic progress as well. Hence, it is the responsibility of parents and teachers to help the child develop self-esteem or a sense of self-worth. Here are a few pointers that will help parents and teachers in building Self Esteem in children:

• Encouragement: Constant encouragement and appreciation can help children become confident and excel in whatever they do. This will help him develop a sense of self worth and boost self-esteem. Parents must talk about the positive side of their child and help them do away with their shortcomings. A nice way to encourage children is by rewarding them. You can gift them books, toys or anything that you think they would like. Teachers too must encourage children to do well in class. If a child is working hard, teachers must recognize the child’s efforts.



• Communication Skills: Parents should help children develop communication skills. With good communication skills your child will become confident. He will not feel shy to take part in group activities, sports, and competitions. He will be recognized in school by teachers and fellow students and ultimately it will help build self-esteem. In school, such programs and activities must be organized that help children develop communication skills. It could be group discussions, sports competitions, etc.



• Care and Affection: Parents must tell children how much they value their children. With parents’ love and affection, children feel wanted. This makes them feel good about themselves and boosts self-esteem. Parents must spend time with their children; take them out for picnics or movies, read them stories to show how much they love and care for them. In other words give attention to your child.



• Support and Trust: Parents must support and trust their children. They must allow them to make decisions and must guide them to take the right decisions. When children know that their parents trust them, they become more responsible and are careful about what they do. With the support and trust of parents, children attain the confidence to take on new challenges. In school, teachers must show confidence in their capabilities to help them excel. Teach them that failure is part of life and they must try hard next time. Failures must not lead to low self-esteem.