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Financial Freedom => Family Finances => Topic started by: Sam on January 23, 2019, 01:25:40 PM

Title: How To Build Self Esteem In Children
Post by: Sam on January 23, 2019, 01:25:40 PM
Ever since I was a kid, I stood up to bullies and aggressively fought back. I didn't care if I got beat up, I knew that before I went down, I could get at least one devastating strike in. I ALWAYS defended my honor. As I went to public high school and college, I had to continue fighting back. It was the only way annoying people and provokers would back down.

As an adult now, I continue to have this fire. My default setting is, "If you f with me, I will f you up." I love respectful and kind people. But I hate the opposite.

There are positives to this fire, but also negatives, if not controlled.

By the time I graduated from college, I had maximum self-confidence and self-esteem to go after my dreams.

My question to you is this:

How much of self-confidence and self-esteem is nurture versus nature?

How do we help instill self-confidence and self-esteem in our children so they don't get picked on and have the joy to go after their dreams?

Sam
Title: Re: How To Build Self Esteem In Children
Post by: polama on January 23, 2019, 02:12:25 PM
I've got a toddler, and it seems like differences in self-confidence (at least as manifested in exploration and being ok with separation from a parent) kicked in almost immediately. So it may be nurture in the initial months, or there may be a reasonably large genetic component. That said, even if we've got natural inclinations, it's very clear to me that upbringing (and our paths through life) can have a big impact.

We try to push our son to try things on his own (getting dressed, keep trying with a toy that's frustrating him). We praise his successes and encourage him during failures. Show him love. Trying to train him that overall things are ok, and that when he faces adversity there's support he can find in family and in himself.

I also try to keep an open mind to the variety of ways there are to deal with issues and succeed in life. Low self-esteem can manifest in surrender, but I've also seen it manifest in a drive to out work everyone else. Just one of those oddities about the complexity of life: sometimes the most successful people are driven by some deep neurosis. We often praise daring risk takers, but the overly cautious can also win in the end. Lots of paths through life. As a parent you try to guide them where it seems like things will be easiest/happiest, but I also try to step back and acknowledge that he'll be his own person, and that the straightest path isn't necessarily the best.

Along those lines, I found the variety of tactics people took to dealing with bullies and social hierarchies interesting. Using humor or kindness to diffuse situations. Befriending a bigger, tougher kid. I figured out early on that indifference was shockingly effective against a bully. They'd pick on me and I wouldn't give them a rise. They'd ask if I wanted to fight, and I'd shrug that I didn't particularly, but would. Every time they'd back off and leave me alone for good. I was merely nerdy but otherwise not terribly different from the crowd, so I don't know if it'd work in more severe cases. But it turned out that just going off the script of "either I back down and you pick on me, or I act aggressively back and maybe we fight" just ended the whole thing.
Title: Re: How To Build Self Esteem In Children
Post by: sfpf on January 23, 2019, 02:39:02 PM
I think there's definitely a major nature component, which can be strengthened through a positive nurturing environment. I think healthy children develop a natural desire to succeed and show their parents "hey look what I can do!" even before they can fully speak or understand what they are doing.
Title: Re: How To Build Self Esteem In Children
Post by: Sam on January 23, 2019, 04:56:44 PM
Paloma - One of the reoccurring tips from all the children's books I've read is: praise effort, not success.
Title: Re: How To Build Self Esteem In Children
Post by: Tony on February 11, 2019, 09:53:25 AM
I think its really important to find something your kid is very excited or enthusiastic about and let them obsess over that thing and get really really good at it. The confidence and self esteem they build from that thing will often carry over to other parts of their life.
Title: Re: How To Build Self Esteem In Children
Post by: KentBnntt on June 21, 2019, 01:52:30 AM
Quote from: Tony on February 11, 2019, 09:53:25 AM
I think its really important to find something your kid is very excited or enthusiastic about and let them obsess over that thing and get really really good at it. The confidence and self esteem they build from that thing will often carry over to other parts of their life.

I agree with this position. I've noticed that this rule works for my son. When he succeeds in something he really likes, it adds him a nice portion of self-power and self-esteem. Small successful steps result in bigger wins.