Building a Healthy Self-Esteem
(article) http://www.happynews.com/news/672007/building-healthy-self-esteem.htm
Here's a good article on being "real" with your kid. Positive, definitely. Over-Positive, no. (but over-positive still beats over-negative!). Here are some excerpts from this article so you'll get the point…
- "Few things are more important to a child's personal growth than having a healthy self-esteem.
- We help our children have a strong sense of self by confirming their emotions. If we dismiss their feelings, that hurts their sense of self-worth, but if we encourage them to express how they feel, that builds them up.
- but maybe we shouldn't call our children Michelangelo every time they draw a stick man standing by a stick house.
- If we give it too liberally, we make ourselves out to be either liars or fools.
- What we really want, then, is for our children to be balanced, well rounded, and with a healthy self-concept. We don't want them to be spoiled or over-confident to the point no one can stand them. We want them to be appreciative and humble, but with the confidence to storm through life with their heads high.
- They'll know the sting of failure and understand the concept of guilt and shame, but they use that to move forward and become better. "
In other words, be UP, help them be in touch with their feelings & emotions, and above all, BE REAL. (hey, that attitude works too for friends, family, even yourself!)
- Matt
Stumble It!
