Contrary to popular belief, the one thing that your child wants may not be a new car, new phone, or new game. Instead, research shows that the one thing most teenagers and young adults want is simply a compliment or any other type of instant self-esteem builder, like a good grade or approving hug. This yearning for self-esteem builders is not limited to teenagers, most young children will also actively seek out ways to boost their own self-esteem – and with good reason. A healthy sense of self and confidence is important to the mental health of children of all ages.
Self-esteem is essentially a measure of how confident one feels about his or her abilities. It is a huge factor in mental health, which may explain why an article published in USA Today found that young adults craved it more than anything else. At a time when teenagers are entering adulthood, they may be scrambling to find out exactly what type of person they are and will become, shaking up their self-esteem levels. The craving for praise and reassurance highlights the fact that teenagers need higher levels of self-esteem in order to better cope with their changing identity roles from that of a child to a young adult.
However, it is not only the teenagers who need help building up their self-esteem. Younger children also need to figure out their identities. Many are constantly trying to figure themselves out, probing into who they are as individuals and in a group, what they can do, and what they cannot do. Self-esteem is directly related to this, as those with a higher level of self-esteem may be more aware of what they can accomplish and feel more confident in trying new things, whereas those with lower self-esteem may be more reluctant to tackle anything too challenging. This means that having a healthy level of self-esteem allows for children and teenagers alike to take on their studies, hobbies, and career goals realistically. In fact, having a healthy level of self-esteem from a young age can also decrease a child’s chances of developing depression or anxiety, according to the Counseling and Mental Health Center of the University of Texas. Those with lower levels of self-esteem are also more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol and participate in criminal activity, the Center reports.
Parents can help their children build up their self-esteem by simply offering them respect, motivation, and love. Firm guidelines of what is allowed and disallowed behavior can also help children and teenagers develop a good sense of what can and cannot be done to earn praise and respect. While big accomplishments should obviously be celebrated, such as a graduation from one level of education to another, small accomplishments should be celebrated as well, such as a good test grade or successful soccer try-out. These celebrations do not necessarily have to be grandiose something as small as a simple, “good job!” can go a long way to building up a child’s self-esteem.
Self-esteem should not be ignored. Children and teenagers need a good level of it in order to feel confident enough to tackle new challenges, whether those challenges are academic or personal. Having a healthy level of self-esteem allows children to become more secure about themselves and what they can do, which is essential in ensuring good mental health.
[Kitty Holman, regularly writes on the topics of nursing colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id]
