Parenting is definitely one of the most complicated jobs on earth. Whatever you do as a parent will impact your kids’ lives and this molds them into who they will become in future.
Regardless of what your parenting style is, there are certain habits that can either nurture or break your child’s self-esteem.
Children who have strong self-confidence have a better chance of being happy adults which also reduces the likelihood of low self-esteem problems.
On the opposite side of that are kids who feel the negative impact of their parent’s parenting. These self-esteem issues aren’t easy to get rid of especially if they were rooted in childhood.
It’s important to know the habits you need to avoid. These are some of the things you could be doing that you need to change:
Hurtful jokesIt’s normal for parents and kids to joke around. Making light hearted fun of each other shows the special bond you have as a family.
But at the same time there are certain jokes that could be damaging your child’s self-esteem. If you know that they are sensitive about certain topics like their hair or acne, you shouldn’t assume that they are okay with being made fun of when it comes to that.
PerfectionismEvery good parent pushes their kids to be the best. As a parent you understand the value of teaching your children how to excel because these are values that will benefit them in adulthood.
However, there is a difference between this and pressuring them to be perfect. A parent who is focused and obsessed on being perfect will always harshly criticize their children in almost everything they do.
As your kids grow older, they will start to feel like they must always be perfect. They will always harshly criticize themselves and that is exactly what low-self-esteem is.
Overpraising is a common trend where parents are encouraged to keep praising their kids even when the praises clearly don’t match the situation.
Although it looks innocent, the fake praises usually breed feelings of inadequacy in children. When they step into the real world, they will have a hard time figuring out who they are and what they are actually good at.
You should support and encourage your kids but don’t go overboard in an exaggerated way.
FavoritismChildren naturally crave their parent’s love. Even in adulthood, there is that inner child in us that seeks that love.
And while in almost every household we can identify the favorite child, this habit of favoritism can be the root cause of low self-confidence for the child that feels unloved.
If you are guilty of showing favoritism, it’s time to change.
Overprotective habitsOverprotecting your kids is a form of control. You might think you are shielding your kids from trouble but the reality of it all is different.
Kids who have grown up in a controlling household form an unhealthy dependency on their parents and they also have a difficult time being confident in who they are.
So, just do your best as a parent and allow your kids to experience life for themselves.