Teen Esteem is a Parent's Dream

A teen's self-esteem can be a very delicate thing.  Friends and peers can influence the way a teenager feels about themselves either positively or negatively.  Parents can have even greater influence over their teen's self-esteem and it is important to know how to cultivate healthy adolescent self-esteem.

As kids get older they begin asserting greater independence.  They become more social and eventually want to start dating.  This can be a major factor in teen esteem.  The desire to be popular and attractive to the opposite sex can be overwhelming to a young person.  It is important that kids have a home where they can feel safe and loved.  Knowing that they are valuable to their family will help the dating scene be not quite as rough.  Of course, a dad can write a caring "I Treasure You" note to his daughter telling her that she is growing into a wonderful young woman; and a mom can write an encouraging "I Treasure You" note to her son to show her confidence in his growth to treat girls with respect.

School is another area where teen esteem can take a beating.  If a teenager is very smart but somewhat shy, they may end up being labeled as a nerd.  This can be very disheartening.  Likewise, if a teen is not as smart, they may be called slow.  These things can be very hard and make a child feel like less of a person.  As parents, it is our responsibility to build a teen's self esteem so that it can withstand this trying time.  The best way to help our kids feel good about themselves is to start confidence training when they are young.  By using specific positive affirmations about our kids, we can help build their confidence from a very young age.

Helping our kids be comfortable about the many changes taking place in their bodies during the adolescent years will prevent many self-confidence issues.  All teenagers develop at a different rate. This makes comparisons among peers difficult.  The girl whose chest is over or under developed and the boy whose voice is cracking can be vulnerable to ridicule.  When we take the time to help them understand what is going on and assure them that this phase will pass, it gives kids some hope that this period will end soon.  It will also help them feel loved, which will help build teen esteem. 

During the teen years, a teenager's natural abilities and interests often emerge and blossom. Take the time to help them discover what those talents and interests are and then make the resources available for them to develop it.  When a child has something that they know they are good at, it helps them feel good about themselves.  Even during difficult times they can know that they excel at something.  Showing an interest in them as a person will also help a teen's self-esteem.