SAFEGUARDING SELF ESTEEM

There has been quite a lot written about self esteem - how to build it, grow it, and save it, and many parents have come to believe that it is a nearly impossible task - to raise a child - especially a daughter with a healthy sense of self, when in fact - it can be one of the simplest of every day tasks regardless of how busy or demanding the hours of your days are, year after busy year.

It is a Universal Truth that children, who feel that they are an extremely important and joyful part of a parent's life, who feel cherished for who they are, will grow up feeling as if they are an integral part of what makes the world a place of wonderment that they can play in and change for the better - even when they have been raised in the humblest of homes.

Complement your child every chance you get. This can be done all day long in a variety of small ways. You can comment on her eyes, her smile, her choice of hair accessory to complement her outfit, her kiss, her hug, her concern for you, for others, for animals, for plants, for teachers or friends.
Applaud her independent efforts no matter how small. A well - written assignment, a drawing, a performance of any sort, an attempt at a game or activity never before tried or played.

Remind her that everyone has a gift that will be recognized or discovered by someone, and that everyone has worth and is worth listening to and learning from, that there is always something that can be taken away from an experience; which will add to her own wealth of knowledge and experience.

Stress the beauty and power of communicating well. Let her know how quickly people are identified by their speech regardless of its content.
Remind her that courtesy is a thing that every person deserves in equal measure, and that can disarm an adversary.

Let her know that there is nothing in this world that she cannot achieve if she wishes to invest her mind and her time toward achieving it, and that she should seek out like-minded persons who see the possibilities in everything rather than obstacles too large or complicated to attempt.

Tell her to be fearless when she is right. Tell her to stand with her convictions and she will teach others about the power of truth, even those who have never heard it.

Read to her about the multitude of women throughout history whose immense contributions to everything that has been discovered or created by human kind have no equal, and remind her that she will be one more great woman in that unbroken chain.