Your Child's Self-Esteem and Self-Image

In being a work at home mom you are fortunate to be the primary person developing your own child as you care and interact with him throughout the day. You have the wonderful opportunity of teaching him the values that are important to you. Self-esteem and a strong self-image should be at the top of that list. One of the ways we build these values is in validating a child’s feelings.

Validating a child’s feelings is very important for the healthy well-being of a child. His emotions are a part of him and if we force him to suppress them they will come out in all kinds of unacceptable social behavior. Besides, if we say not to have those feelings or if we say they are wrong then we are rejecting part of the child. We are passing on a message that it is not OK to be who he is since his feelings are part of his make-up. If we don’t acknowledge feelings like anger and frustration, and hurt, he might get depressed. Sometimes he then takes these feelings out on his brother or sister just to vent them because he hasn’t dealt with them.

Besides just validating a child’s feelings it’s important to also discuss with the child why he feels what he feels- sad, angry, or lonely. He then realizes there is a reason to feel that way and when he encounters the same kind of incidence again that brought them on he can better handle these emotions and even decide to deal with them on his own, letting go of the anger or other feeling more quickly.

Acknowledging a child’s feelings readily builds trust because in accepting the feelings, you as a parent are accepting the child. The next time he has a problem he will come to you again and express how he feels. As you accept his right to these feelings he will feel comfortable with you and discover you are there for him, warm and supporting. This builds a positive self-image and self-esteem in a young child as he realizes that he is a worthy human being because he is treated with respect and acceptance.

Ruth Willms is one of the founding sponsors of WAHM-Articles.com and author of The Lion Tree, a children's book.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com