Is your child struggling with low self-esteem, self-worth, or self-confidence? As a parent, it’s tough to stand by and see our children feeling like they don’t “measure up” or can’t handle things as well as their peers seem to be able to. Kids’ self-esteem is constantly being challenged because they’re regularly faced with new things to experience, new opportunities, and new tasks to deal with. Their self-esteem, their sense of “I can handle it,” is constantly being put to the test.
Teaching kids to master the skills to solve their problems effectively builds their sense of self-esteem as well as their life skills. Below you’ll find our suggested articles that will help you get started in helping kids learn how to master the life-skills needed to build self-esteem.
Low Self-esteem in Kids, Part I: Forget What You've Heard—It's a Myth
Low Self-esteem in Kids Part II: 3 Ways to Help Your Child Now
Procrastinating about homework. Backtalk. Refusal to do chores. Cursing. Most of the parents I speak with on a daily basis know something has to change with their child’s behavior, yet they feel overwhelmed about how to change it and unsure of where to start. With this uncertainty, it’s easy to get “stuck” in a place... Read more »
Is your child forgetful, irresponsible, moody and prone to daydreaming? Does he seem to lack motivation and become easily bored? This behavior could be related to SCT, or "Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Disorder." This new way of looking at certain ADHD-like symptoms in kids has been generating quite a bit of buzz lately.... Read more »
When my son received his GED this year, I put together a small scrapbook for him with photos, quotes, and cards from his friends. I also considered the life skills he’s already mastered and thought about the ones he’s still working on. The big "a-ha moment" for me? Realizing that everything else in life builds... Read more »
You know the drill: you’re trying to talk to your teen about curfew. Or dinner. Or absolutely anything—and they pretend they can’t hear you. They start an argument with you, or give you an eye roll and a "Whatever." Or they turn up their music. They won’t lift their eyes from... Read more »
“When I was young, my mom and dad sent us out to play in the morning in our neighborhood, and we didn’t come home until dinner time,” a friend said to me recently. “But times have changed. I feel like I have to keep constant tabs on my kids. I wish... Read more »
Karen hasn’t slept through the night in years—she’s too worried about her son Mason making it through high school. He tried two different schools and now takes online classes, but that's not working, either. Karen has resorted to sitting with him for three hours every night (after coming home from her full-time job) to help... Read more »
Something I’ve learned as a therapist and a mom is that you cannot “fix” your child’s self-esteem as a parent—though many of us make ourselves crazy trying to do just that. It’s hard to see our kids acting out and giving up because of insecurities, so we wrack our brains trying... Read more »
When kids hit the pre–teen years, insecurities begin to creep in. Many adolescents start to worry that they’re not popular, good–looking or smart enough. In fact, it’s common for even the most self–assured teen to be down at times. In this frank conversation with Josh Shipp, he explains how you can help your child avoid... Read more »
In the first part of “How to Motivate Teenagers,” Josh Shipp, teen communication expert and author of the Identity Program, explained the secret of giving your child the “why” of doing things. In Part 2 of this series, Josh tells you what to say—and what not to say—when talking to your unmotivated teen. EP: Josh, you tell parents that it’s... Read more »
Does your teen seem completely unmotivated? For parents of teens, the refrains of, “Whatever,” and “I don’t care,” can become all too familiar. This week, Josh Shipp explains where your child’s motivation really lies—and how you can tap into it in Part 1 of “How to Motivate Teenagers.” EP: Josh, what should... Read more »