Quieting the Noise – Building Children’s Self Esteem

al fresco

Louis, my eldest son is almost nine. In the blink of an eye, he is a pre-teen. Holding his hand and public displays of affection are a no-go. But this also means image, looks and self esteem have become our parenting battles.

What tips do you have for navigating this age?

Of course, I did some googling. So in case you need some tips, our good old NHS advises the below:

  • Listen
    • Ask how they’re doing?
    • Do an activity they enjoy and chat while doing it.
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  • Support
    • Pay attention to their emotions and behaviour.
    • Work through difficulties.
    • Help them understand what they’re feeling and why.
support
  • Stay Involved
    • Show interest in their life and things important to them.
    • Value who they are.
    • This also makes it easier to spot problems and support them.
involved
  • Encourage
    • Being active, creative, learning new things and being part of a team help connect us to others and help mental health.
    • Encourage them to explore their interests.
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  • Value
    • Listen and value what they say.
    • No judgement.
    • Consider how to help them process and work through their emotions constructively.
value
  • Routine
    • Structure, regular routines, healthy eating, and exercise.
    • Sleep
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You never know, these tips could probably help anyone, not just children.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before:

I’ve read that children feel safe, welcome, seen and loved if there are images of themselves in the family home. I love this idea and think this is something every family needs to know.

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