Often a parent will call me to talk about their child’s self-esteem and they’d like my help because they think it is low. We book in a session for me to see if it is or if there is something else going on. Once we get into the coaching session, and the child and I have talked, I realise that actually, they are doing okay. Their self-esteem is intact and they can share with me their strengths and attributes, and can be objective in what they would like to change about themselves. It is constructive, not critical. If a child can do this, then I am assured that the child’s self-esteem is not the issue and it is something else that needs to be addressed.
It can be very worrying for parents who think that their child has low self-esteem. To be sure, look out for these signs:
A Child’s Self-esteem – Knowing The Signs Of Low Self-esteem
- Being disengaged from life
- Having a critical attitude in general
- Saying negative things about themselves
- Worrying about failing or making mistakes
- Saying ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I’m not sure’ a lot
- Being self-critical and putting themselves down
These are just a few signs of low self-esteem in children. It is worth checking in and noticing what is going on with your child to establish whether self-esteem is the problem or if it is something else.
If your child’s self-esteem is an issue, get the wheels in motion to improve it by reading The Parent’s Toolkit: Simple and Effective Ways to Help Your Child Be Their Best. This book has lots of ideas for boosting self-esteem. Give them a try and, if your child is still struggling, do get in touch as I’m always open to chatting to parents on the phone.
I wrote this book for parents to help their children successfully navigate childhood problems and grow into happy, confident and resilient young adults. It includes teaching children positive self-talk, simple problem-solving techniques, challenging negative thoughts, how to make and keep friends, how to raise self-esteem etc., and gives parents specific advice on how to hone their own listening and coaching skills.
