It’s no easy task, especially as kids enter their tween and teen years and outside influences like social media become more of an issue. But parents have a tremendous influence on how a child feels about themselves. If you can, focus on self-esteem from a young age, since confidence isn’t something you’re necessarily born with. It needs to be nurtured and developed over time.
Show them the value of helping.
Give them tools to engage with social media in a thoughtful, critical way and remind them that what they are seeing on social media is not always true: it’s a carefully-curated highlight reel.
Teach them about boundaries. It’s important to know when you need a break or just a nap.
Empower them when faced with bullies of all kinds.
Instill self-reliance.