By Andrew Borodin

Today I would like to share on improving the confidence and self esteem of your child. I know that this is a huge topic and we will not be able to cover it in any huge detail. But we will give it our best shot.

Most children have a healthy self esteem and are confident about who they are and where they come from. This is no accident. Their parents have been supportive and helpful in the young childs endeavours and development. Basically the parents have been there for their child. They have encouraged and supported the child to make sure that the child was successful in whatever they were doing. The small successes soon become big and the progression is that the child will be confident to take greater steps and have greater success. The greatest gift that any parent can give their child is LOVE and then after that is faith in the childs ability to succeed. Believing in someones ability gives them confidence that they can do it.

When a Child says, ' I am no good, I will never be able to do it..' Shows that the child has not been encouraged and supported. The child needs help in developing and building their confidence. It will have to be done by having small successes and proving to the child that they can do it and that the child is capable and that the child is GOOD.

You as a parent ask yourself, have I encouraged my child or have I put my child down? What type of language am I using, is it to my childs benefit? What can I do to make this better? Are you being too critical?

Most parents do not mean to belittle their children, but in the heat of the moment they do let it slip. ' Little Johnny you are the most useless boy I have ever seen, you keep spilling you milk like a baby.!!!' This certainly does not help little Johnny improve his confidence.

We as parents need to be mindful of what we say to our children. We need to say encouraging and uplifting things to our children. Like, great spillage, you need to concentrate on what you are doing and not looking at what is happening on TV when you are pouring the milk into the glass.

By speaking positively and encouragingly to your child you will see big improvements, especially in confidence and self esteem. Your children will not be afraid to make a mistake and will have the confidence to make well defined decisions without fear of failure. You as a parent you will be doing less nagging. Do you want your child to have low self esteem? If not. Then……. Be positive, Be encouraging, Get to it and Do It!

Andrew Borodin http://www.parent-child-help.com

Andrew Borodin is a retired teacher who enjoys helping kids and their parents build stronger family ties for their lifetime. http://www.parent-child-help.com

Andrew Borodin is a retired teacher who enjoys helping kids and their parents build stronger family ties for their lifetime. http://www.parent-child-help.com

By Tony Robinson

These cues can by extreme shyness, hesitance to begin projects, negative attitudes towards him or herself, overt frustration at having to try new things, and inability or fear when it comes to making even the simplest decision.

Parents can begin teaching self confidence immediately after their child is born. Provide endless encouragement when your child is developing new skills or trying new things. Young children especially need encouragement since they are continuing to develop new skills on a daily basis.

Whether physical or mental, these important developmental times can range from your child taking his or her first steps to learning to read. Each step in your childs development is exceedingly important and, in order to be completed as soon as possible, should be thoroughly reinforced in a positive manner. This positive reinforcement will encourage your child to work harder in completing the task at hand.

Teachers can teach self confidence from the moment a child enters the classroom. Carefully monitor each childs progress in each subject and skill covered in your curriculum to ensure your students are accomplishing their academic goals and not falling behind with any aspect of your teaching.

This is invaluable to teachers of all subjects and all ages of children. Create ways to praise or reward your students when classroom or individual goals are accomplished. This will encourage children to strive to meet these goals and reinforce their self confidence. Take great care not to use negative measures to reproach or criticize your students.

Correcting issues using a positive demeanor can enable the child to understand your point more clearly while retaining their self confidence. Negative tones or attitudes taken towards your students can do considerable harm to both their mental and emotional development and well-being.

Create situations where your child can work on his or her self confidence. Enroll your child in a sports program or other activity to allow him or her to express interests and develop new goals. A child who participates in activities such as athletics, dance, scouts, or music has more opportunities to try new things and develop new skills. These opportunities will allow children to further develop their self confidence while gaining new friends and experiences in these activities.

Take great care to support your child in any activity he or she decides to undertake. Your child may not be the next great baseball player or a world famous piano prodigy, so be aware of the varying levels of success that can be accomplished. A child can succeed by maintaining a positive attitude and attacking each hurdle with enthusiasm and enjoyment. Do not necessarily associate success in the activity with the overall success of the experience.

Even though your child may not be able to dunk a ball with professional precision, he or she will have gained a phenomenal experience and self confidence during the duration of the activity.

When working with children of any age, you must lead by example. If your child shows that you possess a great amount of self confidence, he or she will develop a great amount of self confidence as well. Conversely, if you lack self confidence and show your child this by being negative, hesitant, or meek, he or she will not understand or appreciate the necessity of having high self confidence.

Tony Robinson spent many years as a School Teacher and Administrator. Always of concern was low self esteem and a lack of confidence with some students. For more information visit http://www.better-self-esteem.com

By Tony Robinson

These cues can by extreme shyness, hesitance to begin projects, negative attitudes towards him or herself, overt frustration at having to try new things, and inability or fear when it comes to making even the simplest decision.

Parents can begin teaching self confidence immediately after their child is born. Provide endless encouragement when your child is developing new skills or trying new things. Young children especially need encouragement since they are continuing to develop new skills on a daily basis.

Whether physical or mental, these important developmental times can range from your child taking his or her first steps to learning to read. Each step in your childs development is exceedingly important and, in order to be completed as soon as possible, should be thoroughly reinforced in a positive manner. This positive reinforcement will encourage your child to work harder in completing the task at hand.

Teachers can teach self confidence from the moment a child enters the classroom. Carefully monitor each childs progress in each subject and skill covered in your curriculum to ensure your students are accomplishing their academic goals and not falling behind with any aspect of your teaching. This is invaluable to teachers of all subjects and all ages of children. Create ways to praise or reward your students when classroom or individual goals are accomplished.

This will encourage children to strive to meet these goals and reinforce their self confidence. Take great care not to use negative measures to reproach or criticize your students. Correcting issues using a positive demeanor can enable the child to understand your point more clearly while retaining their self confidence. Negative tones or attitudes taken towards your students can do considerable harm to both their mental and emotional development and well-being.

Create situations where your child can work on his or her self confidence. Enroll your child in a sports program or other activity to allow him or her to express interests and develop new goals. A child who participates in activities such as athletics, dance, scouts, or music has more opportunities to try new things and develop new skills. These opportunities will allow children to further develop their self confidence while gaining new friends and experiences in these activities.

Take great care to support your child in any activity he or she decides to undertake. Your child may not be the next great baseball player or a world famous piano prodigy, so be aware of the varying levels of success that can be accomplished. A child can succeed by maintaining a positive attitude and attacking each hurdle with enthusiasm and enjoyment. Do not necessarily associate success in the activity with the overall success of the experience.

Even though your child may not be able to dunk a ball with professional precision, he or she will have gained a phenomenal experience and self confidence during the duration of the activity.

When working with children of any age, you must lead by example. If your child shows that you possess a great amount of self confidence, he or she will develop a great amount of self confidence as well. Conversely, if you lack self confidence and show your child this by being negative, hesitant, or meek, he or she will not understand or appreciate the necessity of having high self confidence.

Tony Robinson spent many years as a School Teacher and Administrator. Always of concern was low self esteem and a lack of confidence with some students. For more information visit http://www.better-self-esteem.com

By Cheng Cheng Tan

On the other hand, a child who lacks self-esteem will be constantly seeking for approval by his parents and peers before he tries anything new. There is fear within him that he may not be accepted by others around him.

Here are some tips to build self confidence in the child:

- Encourage the child to do things on his own. It does not matter even if he does it wrongly(as long as he is in a safe environment). The most important thing is to let him try and he will definitely gain confidence after gaining some success. He will gain confidence and want to try out more and do more. He becomes aware that he can do more if he tries and my even make some mistakes.

- Focus on his strengths and not his weakness. It is understandable that as parents that we want the best for our children. However, we have to be aware that every child is special and different. Though Mathematics is very important, the child may not like it at all. Instead of forcing him to sit down and listen, try to incorporate Maths with something that he likes e.g. music. This will lower his resistance towards learning Maths and he may think of better ideas to learn maths with music too. You never know how creative they can be.

-Praise your child when he does something well. Children are constantly looking for approval. Parents are usually critical because it is easier to point out mistakes. Just be aware and remember that children (just like anybody else) prefer to listen to positive things.

-Differentiate the child from his behaviour. If parents are unhappy with the childs behaviour, tell the child. We need to reinforce that we still love the child but not the behaviour. The child needs to know that parents still love them after being punished. Children do not mind being being punished because they did something wrongly but they need to know that their parents still love them. Tell your kids that you love them and do not assume they know. Tell them that you love them even when you punish them.

-Let him learn a new skill when he is ready. These include learning to use the scissors, needle up to learning multiplication tables. Different skills builds the childs confidence in different areas of his life. We need to build up his social skills on how to make friends, motor skills as in how to use the scissors, fork and knife. Others include literacy skills and numeracy skill. Each has to be taken one step at a time. This includes letting him try new things.

-Create chances for them to speak up in front of the family. This can help in public speaking and their confidence in public in general. Start by doing this at home. Once they can overcome the fear of speaking in front of the family, you can extend to your friends and relatives. Start somewhere. You could even let them start by talking to another sibling or in the toilet. Encourage them to speak up and you can learn about what they are thinking about as well.

Try out these tips first!

Cheng Cheng is a parenting expert with with two boys age 5 and 6. She has learnt a lot form books and other mothers. She hopes to share her experiences and knowledge which will definitely be useful to you. For more tips on parenting and raising kids, go to http://www.raisingconfidentkids.com

By Cheng Cheng Tan

On the other hand, a child who lacks self-esteem will be constantly seeking for approval by his parents and peers before he tries anything new. There is fear within him that he may not be accepted by others around him.

Here are some tips to build self confidence in the child:

- Encourage the child to do things on his own. It does not matter even if he does it wrongly(as long as he is in a safe environment). The most important thing is to let him try and he will definitely gain confidence after gaining some success. He will gain confidence and want to try out more and do more. He becomes aware that he can do more if he tries and my even make some mistakes.

- Focus on his strengths and not his weakness. It is understandable that as parents that we want the best for our children. However, we have to be aware that every child is special and different. Though Mathematics is very important, the child may not like it at all. Instead of forcing him to sit down and listen, try to incorporate Maths with something that he likes e.g. music. This will lower his resistance towards learning Maths and he may think of better ideas to learn maths with music too. You never know how creative they can be.

-Praise your child when he does something well. Children are constantly looking for approval. Parents are usually critical because it is easier to point out mistakes. Just be aware and remember that children (just like anybody else) prefer to listen to positive things.

-Differentiate the child from his behaviour. If parents are unhappy with the childs behaviour, tell the child. We need to reinforce that we still love the child but not the behaviour. The child needs to know that parents still love them after being punished. Children do not mind being being punished because they did something wrongly but they need to know that their parents still love them. Tell your kids that you love them and do not assume they know. Tell them that you love them even when you punish them.

-Let him learn a new skill when he is ready. These include learning to use the scissors, needle up to learning multiplication tables. Different skills builds the childs confidence in different areas of his life. We need to build up his social skills on how to make friends, motor skills as in how to use the scissors, fork and knife. Others include literacy skills and numeracy skill. Each has to be taken one step at a time. This includes letting him try new things.

-Create chances for them to speak up in front of the family. This can help in public speaking and their confidence in public in general. Start by doing this at home. Once they can overcome the fear of speaking in front of the family, you can extend to your friends and relatives. Start somewhere. You could even let them start by talking to another sibling or in the toilet. Encourage them to speak up and you can learn about what they are thinking about as well.

Try out these tips first!

Cheng Cheng is a parenting expert with with two boys age 5 and 6. She has learnt a lot form books and other mothers. She hopes to share her experiences and knowledge which will definitely be useful to you. For more tips on parenting and raising kids, go to http://www.raisingconfidentkids.com

By Esther Andrews

From observing Ruth and many other people around me in my career, I learned a very important lesson: ones confidence determines ones career. A person can be a genius. He can be most qualified for a job. If he doesnt believe that he can do it, he might not even take on the assignment in the first place. If he does take it on, most likely he will not be as successful as he could.

Just a few weeks ago, I had a conversation with Tammy, another friend of mine. She is a very talented psychologist, very respected at her work place and by her superiors. She told me about a position that has become available at her office. I thought that it would be a fabulous opportunity for Tammy, but she said that she is not going to apply for this position, because she doesnt have enough experience, she does not have the skills needed, and it will take at least another 5 years for her to be able to fulfill this position.

Whether Tammy was right or not in her assessment, I think that this incident proves my point: confidence is a deciding factor for how successful one will be.

So how do we make sure our child develops strong confidence in his ability? In my opinion, this is one of the major issues in parenting. All educators need to ponder this and make sure they support confidence.

Here are a few suggestions that can make a huge difference in your childs confidence:

1. 'You can do it'. Say it to your child often. Teach your child to say to himself, when he attempts to conquer a challenging assignment: 'I can do it'. It is very noticeable that when working on a Math problem, again, confidence is the deciding factor. A student who doubts his own ability to solve the problem, may not apply himself in trying to solve the problem. He will easily say 'I cant do it' or 'its impossible to solve this'. A student with strong confidence will try until he finds the solution. Help your child, by reminding him that he can do it. Teach him to say to himself, 'I can do it!'.

2. Dont criticize your child when he attempts an activity. Dont correct him. It is so tempting to correct a child, when you see him doing something 'wrong'. You watch your child coloring, or trying to write, at an early age. He is holding the pen in an awkward position, and your mind is screaming 'You hold the pen like this, not like that!'. Exercise discipline - dont do it!

Should you let your child hold the pen incorrectly? No, of course not! But let him do his research, his experimentation. Let him try different ways to hold the pen, and find out by himself what is most efficient. If you want, you can take your own pen, and your own paper, and do some writing right next to him. He will watch you, and see how you hold the pen. I am sure that he will try your method, and come to his own conclusion.

My neighbor Chris visited me with his 4 year old son, Nick. In order to keep Nick happy and busy, we gave him some crayons, pencils and paper, so that we could have our own conversation. As Nick was trying to write his name, holding the pencil in a slightly awkward position, writing some letters that had no resemblance to the letters in his name, his father jumped up, yanked the pencil out of his hand, wrote the name down in front of him, and said, 'What happened to you! This is wrong, this is how you write your name!' Nick is a very serious child, who attempts everything to the best of his ability. As I looked at him, I noticed the expression on his face. It was very troubled. He laid the pencil down, and refused to try any more. What is the message Chris has given to his son? I think that the thought that went through Nicks head was, 'I am not good at this'. Ok, I give you 3 guesses: how good is Nicks handwriting now, at age 8? - You guessed it! It is not good.

3. Praise, praise, praise. Take the opportunity to celebrate every achievement, big or small. Praise your child for a good effort to complete an assignment. Praise your child for learning a new skill. Praise your child when he shows interest. Praise your child when he shows drive. Praise your child for anything that you would like to encourage.

Praise has to be sincere, of course. Praise has to be accompanied by enthusiasm. It has to feel good.

Before my son, Eric, was 2 years old, we started taking piano lessons together. I have always wanted to learn to play the piano, but my parents did not make it available to me. So now I saw an opportunity. Our scheduled lessons started with Eric, and when Eric was done I got my lesson. The piano teacher used to praise me lavishly. She told me how talented I am. She told me that adults, when learning to play the piano, usually are much slower than I am, that I am learning so fast, that I have a natural ability. Well - I loved going to these lessons. I enjoyed the lessons. I was very enthusiastic about learning to play the piano. Obviously, if the praise worked so well for me, an adult, wouldnt it work wonders for a child?

4. At the end of the day, when you tuck your child to bed, discuss the days events with your child. Ask the important question: Tell me about the good things that happened today. Make sure the last thoughts of your child, before he goes to sleep, are the good, positive experiences of the day. Make sure you praise him for something he did today, some achievement. End the day on a positive note. This will also insure that you havent forgotten to praise your child where praise is due.

5. Write down a few positive affirmations for your child. Good examples for affirmations are: 'You are so smart, and getting smarter every day'. Or 'You are learning more and more every day'. Affirmations have to be written in the present tense, in positive format ('I am strong and healthy', instead of 'I am not sick'). Think of your childs challenges at the time, or if your child had a bad experience, write an affirmation that will negate the negative experience. (Remember - you write it in a positive format).

Repeat the affirmations to your child, 3 times each. 2 to 3 affirmations at a time are plenty. If your child cooperates, teach him to say the affirmations to himself. You can do this during the day, and at bed time. Early morning at the time your child wakes up is also a good time for affirmations. It is a good idea to read the affirmations into a recording device, and let your child listen to them at his convenience, or while you are driving, waiting in line, or just resting.

6. Your child learns about the world and about himself from you, and from the community that he is in. Teachers, classmates and friends can also easily affect your childs confidence. It is a good idea to make sure, to the best of your ability, that your child is in a positive environment.

If your child is very young, make sure all others who take care of him are also aware and considerate of your childs confidence. When you choose a day care facility for your child, or a baby sitter, make sure you choose a positive environment. If your child is older and goes to school, it is a good idea to meet your childs teacher early in the school year, and make sure they are positive, gentle and respectful. You can specifically bring up the issue of confidence and ask them to support your childs confidence. It is always good to choose a teacher for your child who is cooperative, a teacher who will work with you for the benefit of your child.

7. Make sure your child knows he can discuss with you any issue that is on his mind. This way, if something negative happens, you will be able to help your child cope with it in a positive way, instead of creating a painful memory that may affect your child for the rest of his life.

http://www.all-gifted-children.com In the last 27 years, Esther Andrews has specialized in gifted education. In her 'The Manual You Child Should Have Come With - How to Develop Your Childs Genius' she is revealing how she grew 2 profoundly gifted children, and how you can do it too. Check it out at http://www.all-gifted-children.com/package.htm

By Tony Robinson

Be self-confident as a parent

Children learn by imitating adults, and as parents are the ones who stay the most with the child, the child gets to become like his parents. A self-confident behavior on part of the parent unconsciously establishes self-confident nature as a life skills of the child. A child is a great observer.

So much so that it has been said that a child is the father of man! Observation makes the first half of learning while doing makes the second half. So if he observes you staying idle, not completing your tasks in time, getting confused at the last hour and the resulting fights and bouts of your temper, he might never know the right way to handle situations. He will also be struggling with devils like procrastination and indiscipline.

Give time to your baby

Spending time with your baby is very important. It may be very tempting to put the baby in a daycare and carry on with your day-to-day activities as a parent. You may have an excuse that, after all, you are working so that you can earn and all your earning is for none other than the child. However, what your child needs is you and your time. His treasures are the games you play with him, the long walks you take him to, the way you help in his studies, and the way you tell him what he means to you. This imbues a sense of security in the child that makes him automatically confident. He knows that he has nothing to worry about.

Once your child gets strong and self-confident, he wont need your money, as he will have the aptitude and strength to go out and earn for himself. As the old proverb goes, give a fish to a man and you take care of him for one day. Teach a man how to fish and you take care of him for a lifetime. That is how it must be!

Be a loveable family

The best thing a man can do for his child is to love his mother. Yes. Nothing works better. Children are the worst sufferers should there be any troubles between you and your spouse. These little souls are too sensitive and your yelling at each other cuts deep in his heart and puts lasting scars. A baby is a gift, the most amazing thing nature can gift you - he is your blood. Make sure you take care of him. Love is the most essential thing of all, for in a home where there is love can happiness and prosperity be far behind?

Have faith in your child

As parents, you may have many concerns about the safety and security of your child, but make sure you dont overprotect your child. You cannot be everywhere for him and its he himself who has to learn to make his mark in this world. Faith is the best encouragement. To be trusted is sometimes an even greater compliment that being loved.

Trust your child and give him small tasks to complete. Nothing is as grand for a child than being given the responsibility to handle a task. He feels honored. His self-worth increases. Guide him to complete task successfully and soon he will have his unique way of doing things. Nature gave him the wings of imagination. Dont clip them. Encourage him and let him fly.

Tony Robinson spent many years as a School Teacher and Administrator. Always of concern was low self esteem and a lack of confidence with some students. For more information visit http://www.better-self-esteem.com

By Brook Noel

Children with healthy self-esteems try hard in school, get along well with others, hold a 'can-do' attitude about life, and feel positive about their environment. They can accept ups and downs graciously. The opposite is true of children who suffer from low self-esteems. These children compare themselves to others and never feel they have done well enough. They are frustrated easily and fear risk and challenge. Children with low self-esteems can easily fall prey to peer pressure, eating disorders, and other dangers.

You can help a child who has a low self-esteem by examining the reasons behind it. You can also encourage the continuity of those children who have healthy self-esteems. By using a positive, can-do attitude in your home, you will pass that attitude on to your child. Try the following ideas to encourage a positive self-esteem:

EXAMINE YOURSELF AND YOUR ATTITUDE Children learn by example. If you hold a high self-esteem and think positively, odds are your child will to. If you suffer from a low self-esteem you will need to examine your current patterns of thinking and work on changing them.

SEEK OUT THE POSITIVE This does not mean you need to be a Pollyanna but you should search for the positive side of things. When your child comes to you with a problem, ask questions and pursue the positive side. The same goes for how you act in your own endeavors. When things go wrong look for the up side.

RELATE TO YOUR CHILD Parents often will sit and tell the humorous stories of their past. There is probably much more your child would like to hear. When your child comes to you with a dilemma, share your own experience. Even though you may be years apart your child may find relief that you have had times of self-doubt and concern.

WHY ASK WHY? If your child uses statements like 'I cant' or other statements that show he is frustrated or giving up, ask 'Why cant you?' Asking these questions may frustrate your child and you may hear answers like 'I dont know… I just cant!' Try bringing the subject up later when the intensity of the situation has lessened. Then ask 'Earlier today you said you could not solve that puzzle, why dont you think you could solve it?' By exploring reasons together you may find the source of a low self-esteem.

IDENTIFY STRENGTHS Another way to increase self-esteem is to emphasize a childs strong points. If he is good in art but doesnt do well in sports–work with him and praise him on his art. By developing a feeling of confidence in one area, that confidence may spread into another area of a childs life.

PRAISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT Praise and encouragement are essential vitamins for a child. Encourage all children and praise them for situations where they put their 'all' into it, no matter what the result. Filling your vocabulary with positive statements and providing a positive environment are big steps in helping your child build a healthy self-esteem.

Brook Noel is an international best-selling author and has written over 10 books. Her newest book The Change Your Life Challenge: A 70 Day Life Makeover Program for Women has helped thousands of women improve relationships, finances, home management, self-esteem, fitness, self-care, stress and depression you can visit the website at http://www.changeyourlifechallenge.com/.

By Wayne Gillie

'Im dumb'

'Im stupid'

'Im just not good enough'

'I hate myself'

'I wish I wasnt born'

These are all examples of negative self-talk, one of the most destructive habits that a child (or an adult for that matter) can have. Unfortunately this is all too common amongst children today. In just about every classroom teachers will be able to identify children who put themselves down, and typically the comments they make will be totally out of all proportion to the reality of any situation they may be facing.

Negative self-talk is much worse than many other bad habits (like biting fingernails) that people develop, because it attacks their own identity, and invariably leads to problems such as: * low self-esteem; * unhappiness; * inability to make friends, and * poor performance in school.

If your child has been engaged in negative self-talk, you need to act NOW. If it has just started you need to nip the problem in the bud, NOW. If it has been going on for some time, you need to act NOW to prevent it from becoming an entrenched habit.

Here are some steps that you can take to help your child:

1. Let your child know regularly that he or she is loved. Show this love in words and in actions.

2. Look for opportunities to praise your child for achievements or positive behaviors. Be real in your comments, but not flattering - children are experts at detecting insincerity!

3. Look for opportunities to praise your child when talking to others. This is especially effective if you are talking to a friend and your child is in an adjacent room and in earshot but is not a part of the conversation.

4. Find a time when your child is in a good mood, and give some instruction on how and why you would like them to stop the negative self-talk. Discuss together some appropriate responses to the incidents that have tended to lead to this problem. Get an agreement on the right way to respond!

5. If the negative talk starts, kindly but firmly put a stop to it straight away. Remind your child of the agreement you made together.

The aim is for children to have a positive and healthy self-image but without an inflated ego. If you suspect the problems your child has are deep seated and not responding to your efforts, it is recommended that you seek professional advice from a qualified psychologist or family counselor.

Wayne and Jenny Gillie are parents and school teachers, and have established www.buildkidsconfidence.com as a resource for parents and teachers who want to improve the self confidence of their children or students.

By KC Smith

Separation Anxiety creates a negative cycle for children, as they are liable to feel more anxious as a result of low self-esteem and may, in turn, feel bad about being so anxious. That is one of the reasons parents need to strive not to belittle children for their Separation Anxiety. Rather than explaining to the child what he 'should' be feeling, let him know that you recognize what he is feeling. Reassure him that you will return and that he is safe in the environment. This self-esteem issue may grow if a child is receiving treatment for Separation Anxiety Disorder or is missing a lot of school as a result of these fearful feelings. Again, the parent needs to reassure the child and find ways to improve feelings of self-worth.

There are a variety of activities that can be used to raise self-esteem. Simply taking notice of something the child has done well and complimenting him on it can be helpful. Children with low self-esteem often find it difficult to accept compliments or to recognize their own positive traits, so the adults need to help them discover good things about themselves. Teaching the child to use positive self talk can help him to better recognize and accept those good traits. It is also helpful to teach him new skills that are age appropriate, so he sees his ability to be successful at new tasks. You should, of course, offer encouragement through each stage of the learning process and show your pride as he accomplishes his goals.

Giving your child an opportunity to make his own decisions can also improve his self-esteem. Allow him a voice in making decisions, and respect the choice he makes. Ask him questions like, 'Would you like to wear your red shirt or your blue shirt.' When he answers, agree with his choice by saying something like, 'Yes, this red shirt is very pretty.' You might give older children a choice for dinner and let them help you prepare the meal. The theme here, of course, is to praise your child for his accomplishments. Make sure you do it realistically, though. Children have a way of knowing when you are praising them just for the sake of it, and you also dont want to give them unrealistic expectations. It is great to commend your child for the A he got on his spelling test, but if he is a B student, dont tell him hes so smart that he will be getting all As. When his next test comes back with a B, he will be disappointed in his effort.

Learn how to beat your own childs separation anxiety with The Separation Anxiety Solution at: http://www.separation-anxiety-solution.com

By KC Smith

Separation Anxiety creates a negative cycle for children, as they are liable to feel more anxious as a result of low self-esteem and may, in turn, feel bad about being so anxious. That is one of the reasons parents need to strive not to belittle children for their Separation Anxiety. Rather than explaining to the child what he 'should' be feeling, let him know that you recognize what he is feeling. Reassure him that you will return and that he is safe in the environment. This self-esteem issue may grow if a child is receiving treatment for Separation Anxiety Disorder or is missing a lot of school as a result of these fearful feelings. Again, the parent needs to reassure the child and find ways to improve feelings of self-worth.

There are a variety of activities that can be used to raise self-esteem. Simply taking notice of something the child has done well and complimenting him on it can be helpful. Children with low self-esteem often find it difficult to accept compliments or to recognize their own positive traits, so the adults need to help them discover good things about themselves. Teaching the child to use positive self talk can help him to better recognize and accept those good traits. It is also helpful to teach him new skills that are age appropriate, so he sees his ability to be successful at new tasks. You should, of course, offer encouragement through each stage of the learning process and show your pride as he accomplishes his goals.

Giving your child an opportunity to make his own decisions can also improve his self-esteem. Allow him a voice in making decisions, and respect the choice he makes. Ask him questions like, 'Would you like to wear your red shirt or your blue shirt.' When he answers, agree with his choice by saying something like, 'Yes, this red shirt is very pretty.' You might give older children a choice for dinner and let them help you prepare the meal. The theme here, of course, is to praise your child for his accomplishments. Make sure you do it realistically, though. Children have a way of knowing when you are praising them just for the sake of it, and you also dont want to give them unrealistic expectations. It is great to commend your child for the A he got on his spelling test, but if he is a B student, dont tell him hes so smart that he will be getting all As. When his next test comes back with a B, he will be disappointed in his effort.

Learn how to beat your own childs separation anxiety with The Separation Anxiety Solution at: http://www.separation-anxiety-solution.com

By Basheer Ahmad

At this age, teenagers are worried about how they look, concerned about their popularity, and very focused on their own feelings and experiences. These truths, combined with still immature reasoning and judgment means that teenagers are prone to distortions in their self image and are likely to have at least somewhat unrealistic estimations of their own capacities.

As a parent, you, naturally, want to help your child with every advantage in life. Most importantly, perhaps, is that you want your child to grow up to be confident, responsible, and successful. How can you best foster self esteem in your teenager?

1) Give them clear rules to follow. All children, no matter what age, respond best to clear instruction. Your teenager may balk or fight over your rules, but this is par for the course. Clear rules communicate the value you have for your child, and when your children know they are valued, this is the first building block of self esteem.

2) Balance out criticism with appropriate acknowledgements. When your child does something well, say so. Acknowledge their skills, talents or abilities, and be sure to pay attention to the positives rather than only the negatives.

3) Let them make some of their own decisions. Teenagers learn good decision-making by actually making decisions. Allow them to make decisions with your guidance. Ask them to share their lines of thinking with you and their reasoning. Help them see where their reasoning or judgment might be better.

4) Keep in regular contact with them. Although teenagers are likely to be self-centered and self focused, be sure to talk to them anyway. Ask about their day, find out what they are feeling, and share information about your day and your feelings too. No matter how much your teenager wants to isolate or disconnect from the family, work to keep them engaged and involved.

5) Be proud of your teenager, and tell them so. When your child accomplishes a goal or is awarded an honor, take the extra step to let him or her know how proud you are. Words make a huge difference; dont just assume that they already know.

6) Support your child during a conflict. When your child is in conflict with another, find a way to support his/her viewpoint while maintaining your personal integrity. Your child will not always be right; but he or she will not always be wrong. Being supportive of your child during conflict provides a strong foundation for meeting all kinds of challenges.

7) Examine your own self esteem and feelings of limitation. If you have struggled with your own self esteem, take care not to impose these same struggles on your child. Children are very susceptible to absorbing their parents opinions and belief systems, so take care not to impose your own negative beliefs on your child.

Be consistent. If you want to raise a healthy, well-adjusted child (and you probably do), be consistent with your rules and your approach. It doesnt matter so much what the rules are. It matters more that the rules are always the rules. Dont criticize your child for something one day and praise him for it the next. Children dont gain self esteem in the face of constant change.

9) Remind your child of your support. Its like the old saying, 'give them roots to ground them, but wings to fly'. Let them know you are there to help them whenever they need it. Again, this feeling of support and constancy will help them become more confident in the world.

10) Finally, celebrate their uniqueness. Every parent has cherished dreams and goals for their child. This doesnt mean that the child will want those same dreams and goals for him or herself. When there is a gap between desires and reality, you, as a parent, must bridge that space by letting go of what you desired and truly, deeply loving who your child is.

These tools will help you build your childs self esteem. With high self esteem, your child will move through the world more confidently, be more willing to take necessary risks, and will be more successful. And what parent wouldnt want that?

Basheer Ahmad is a freelance internet infopreneur and e-learning education consultant from Singapore. Visit his website at : http://www.singapore-math-online.com

He also invites you to subscribe to his FREE , top-rated study tips newsletter and FREE education reports at : http://www.secrets-to-study-success.com

By ian Williamson

At this age, teenagers are worried about how they look, concerned about their popularity, and very focused on their own feelings and experiences. These truths, combined with still immature reasoning and judgment means that teenagers are prone to distortions in their self image and are likely to have at least somewhat unrealistic estimations of their own capacities.

As a parent, you, naturally, want to help your child with every advantage in life. Most importantly, perhaps, is that you want your child to grow up to be confident, responsible, and successful. How can you best foster self esteem in your teenager?

1) Give them clear rules to follow. All children, no matter what age, respond best to clear instruction. Your teenager may balk or fight over your rules, but this is par for the course. Clear rules communicate the value you have for your child, and when your children know they are valued, this is the first building block of self esteem.

2) Balance out criticism with appropriate acknowledgements. When your child does something well, say so. Acknowledge their skills, talents or abilities, and be sure to pay attention to the positives rather than only the negatives.

3) Let them make some of their own decisions. Teenagers learn good decision-making by actually making decisions. Allow them to make decisions with your guidance. Ask them to share their lines of thinking with you and their reasoning. Help them see where their reasoning or judgment might be better.

4) Keep in regular contact with them. Although teenagers are likely to be self-centered and self focused, be sure to talk to them anyway. Ask about their day, find out what they are feeling, and share information about your day and your feelings too. No matter how much your teenager wants to isolate or disconnect from the family, work to keep them engaged and involved.

5) Be proud of your teenager, and tell them so. When your child accomplishes a goal or is awarded an honor, take the extra step to let him or her know how proud you are. Words make a huge difference; dont just assume that they already know.

6) Support your child during a conflict. When your child is in conflict with another, find a way to support his/her viewpoint while maintaining your personal integrity. Your child will not always be right; but he or she will not always be wrong. Being supportive of your child during conflict provides a strong foundation for meeting all kinds of challenges.

7) Examine your own self esteem and feelings of limitation. If you have struggled with your own self esteem, take care not to impose these same struggles on your child. Children are very susceptible to absorbing their parents opinions and belief systems, so take care not to impose your own negative beliefs on your child.

Be consistent. If you want to raise a healthy, well-adjusted child (and you probably do), be consistent with your rules and your approach. It doesnt matter so much what the rules are. It matters more that the rules are always the rules. Dont criticize your child for something one day and praise him for it the next. Children dont gain self esteem in the face of constant change.

9) Remind your child of your support. Its like the old saying, 'give them roots to ground them, but wings to fly'. Let them know you are there to help them whenever they need it. Again, this feeling of support and constancy will help them become more confident in the world.

10) Finally, celebrate their uniqueness. Every parent has cherished dreams and goals for their child. This doesnt mean that the child will want those same dreams and goals for him or herself. When there is a gap between desires and reality, you, as a parent, must bridge that space by letting go of what you desired and truly, deeply loving who your child is.

These tools will help you build your childs self esteem. With high self esteem, your child will move through the world more confidently, be more willing to take necessary risks, and will be more successful. And what parent wouldnt want that?

For More Parenting articles by Ian Williamson please visit http://www.real-articles.com/Category/Parental-Care/38

By Dr. Charles Sophy

But who is the self-assured child? Simply put, it is the child who is confident of their self-worth, and their talents and abilities. A confident and outgoing child, who is not afraid to show the world all the unique ways in which he / she shines. The process of making a self-assured child begins at birth. Children are born with clean slates and do not implicitly know and understand their self-worth. The seeds of self-assurance and self-esteem, therefore, must be carefully sown by the adult figures in a childs life.

Lets take a look at 3 ½ year old Jennifer:

Jennifer attends pre-school. As part of the year-end wrap up, Mom and Dad meet with Jens pre-school teacher, Mrs. Hamilton.

Mrs. Hamilton tells Jens parents that she has noted that Jennifer is always seeking feedback on her accomplishments. 'When Jennifer finishes a drawing,' notes Mrs. Hamilton, 'she is undoubtedly never sure if it is good, and, therefore, fails to exhibit any happiness. Instead, she asks her teachers for re-assurance that the drawing is beautiful and has made them happy.'

Jennifers parents have noted similar behavior at home and during play dates with other children. 'Jennifer has tremendous difficulty making selections from colors of crayons to food,' states Jennifers mother. 'If I ask her what shed like for dinner, she always asks What are my choices? and I begin to narrow the selections for her. Sometimes, I even make the decision for her. No matter what I choose - even if its her favorite meal - Jennifers never happy and always demands to know why she has to eat that.' Mrs. Hamilton tells Jennifers parents that she too has noted that Jennifer will talk back to a teacher or adult in charge, demanding an explanation for having to follow direction. 'No matter how many times we try to talk to her,' notes Jennifers father, 'she doesnt seem to have an awareness of her behaviors.'

The following suggestions may help you raise self-assured children:

• Praise your child: Applause the effort, not just the outcome. Start early and give genuine compliments freely and honestly.

• Observe your childs schoolwork and other activities: Offer your child constructive feedback on their work, this will allow your child to have a safe and realistic view of themselves

• Frame social interactions: Give your child the boundaries with which to speak and respond appropriately to others

• Outline choices: Allow your child to choose from a limited amount of choices. Providing too many will overwhelm the child and may cause frustration and confusion • Lead: Always keep a watchful eye and take charge when necessary Keep In Mind: The process of building self-esteem needs to begin at birth but its never too late to implement positive behaviors.

The recipe for success in raising a self-assured child is simple; connect with your child through positive interactions and communications, and offer unconditional love and support.

You will forever have an impact upon the manner in which your child interacts and feels about themselves. Reach for assistance from a professional if you have any questions.

Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California.

Dr. Sophy is the author of the 'Keep Em Off My Couch' blog and provides real simple answers for solving lifes biggest problems. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.com.

By K Snow

There is a special role that a parent can play in the overall academic, physical and social development of a child. Here are some tips on what activities to give importance to and options for various other activities that a child may be interested in.

Needless to say the school and the homework assignments should take precedence over any other fun-filled or special interest activities. The best way to emphasize the importance of these to your child is to ensure that the days quota of reading, writing and assignments is over before other activities start. If while doing so, you discover that your child has a special interest in a specific academic area like robots or space or animals, dont shy away from aiding the process of discovery and exploration. With the Internet abound with information, encourage your child to learn more and share with you their discoveries. You could be surprised with the wealth of knowledge that your child will emerge with.

Social development can be given an impetus by promoting clubs. These could be reading clubs, library clubs, debate clubs and the like. These can allow your child to participate in story reading sessions and can instill a sense of sharing and being together. Some clubs can also be formed with the purpose of community service in mind and could take on tasks like clean-the-city drives. Social programs can also give your child their first experience in charity, community service and suffering. Volunteering for such programs will enable them to have a sense of achievement.

If you would like to further your child in the pursuit of sports and physical activities, then you could consider enrolling them in a sports club. Dancing is another form of physical activity that allows for a release of all the energy that is pent up among kids. The gym can also be a good source of release.

Another option is to involve your child in household activities like cooking, cleaning, watering the plants etc. This will give you a helping hand and at the same time will infuse a familial bonding among the family members.

From the above it is obvious that the need for a school that has extracurricular activities after school is not an all-pervading requirement. Rather the absence of the same allows you to get more involved in the all round development of you child.

Discover articles and resources offering tips and advice on school and education by visiting http://www.school-answers.com

By Aurelia Williams

* Model good self-esteem: Express through your actions and words that you respect yourself. Children are wonderful at imitating what they see and hear. Remember, you are your childs best role model.

* Create positive routines: Young children need routines to help them to feel secure and competent. Try to set a good schedule for bedtime, rest/naps, meals, etc. Try to keep exceptions to the routine to a minimum and explain any necessary changes if/when they occur.

* Allow many opportunities for children to contribute to the family: Give your child a job/chore that only he/she does for the family. Even a small job can have a positive lasting impact on your childs self esteem.

* Talk about the world in positive terms: Even though there is negativity in the world, dont dwell on it with your child. When with your child, be sure to point out the many positive things in the world.

* Spend time with your child: Remember quality is more important than quantity. Even if you spend just 30 minutes with your child one on one — playing games, taking walks, having long bedtime chats, or just snuggling in front of the TV, spending time with your child shows them that you value their company.

* Give your child choices: Giving your child choices between a reasonable set of options that are already predetermined by you will make them feel empowered.

Aurelia Williams is the host of Parenting My Teen Podcast and is also the owner of Real Life Solutions, a free resource site for moms.

By Alex Dale

Love - love you child unconditionally. Weather he dose his homework or not, cleans his room or not. Your love should be way beyond these things. Your child will notice that.

Tell them you love them - Just tell them 'I love you', a few times a day. If you find that difficult, you only need it more.

Believe - have faith in your childs abilities and potential. Tell him that you do believe in him and his ability. There is no better way to grow a potent adult than believing in him totally.

Set an example - This way your child can learn about the right and wrong straight from your behavior. Always remember that a child will learn weather you set a good or a dab example.

Commend your child every time he acts in a way you find to be a good way. Commending him insures he will act that way the nest time, too.

Tell them what you see as good features - if you think that generosity is a good feature to have, tell that to your child, and commend them each time they act in a generous way.

Remember that each child is different - let every child develop in his unique way and remember that an approach that is good for one child is not suitable for the other one.

Stay positive - Tell your child whats good, not whats bad. For example, tell them that 'being polite will bring you better results in life' instead of telling them that : 'being rude will get you no where in life'

Take a few seconds before you say something to your child. - especially when they did something wrong, pay closer attention to what youre saying to your child. Whats the smartest thing you can tell him right now?

Tell you child a story that has a positive message for life. I still remember the stories I was told when I was a child and the effect they had on me!

Try to establish a peaceful environment in your home - this will have a lasting effect on the kind of person your child will grow to be.

Look at other parents and learn - take the good things and think how you can implement them with your child. Take the bad things and beware not to do that to your child.

Ask yourself each day - how can I be a better parent?

Being a better parent is not always easy but it have a lasting effect on how your child will grow and develop. Most parents just go with the flow. Dont be like that. Make an effort to being a better parent. The rewards are priceless.

Want to learn more about Parenting? Visit Alex Dales http://www.parenting-advice-101.info/. We talk more about parenting advice and parenting programs.

By Aurelia Williams

* Model good self-esteem: Express through your actions and words that you respect yourself. Children are wonderful at imitating what they see and hear. Remember, you are your childs best role model.

* Create positive routines: Young children need routines to help them to feel secure and competent. Try to set a good schedule for bedtime, rest/naps, meals, etc. Try to keep exceptions to the routine to a minimum and explain any necessary changes if/when they occur.

* Allow many opportunities for children to contribute to the family: Give your child a job/chore that only he/she does for the family. Even a small job can have a positive lasting impact on your childs self esteem.

* Talk about the world in positive terms: Even though there is negativity in the world, dont dwell on it with your child. When with your child, be sure to point out the many positive things in the world.

* Spend time with your child: Remember quality is more important than quantity. Even if you spend just 30 minutes with your child one on one — playing games, taking walks, having long bedtime chats, or just snuggling in front of the TV, spending time with your child shows them that you value their company.

* Give your child choices: Giving your child choices between a reasonable set of options that are already predetermined by you will make them feel empowered.

Aurelia Williams is the host of Parenting My Teen Podcast and is also the owner of Real Life Solutions, a free resource site for moms.

By Varghese

Employed in a school in Nainital, Uttar Pradesh,India, Alice Thomas had to return to her native in Kerala to treat her husband who lost his mental balance after a serious car accident. Adept at arts, she took up an assignment of teaching craft to inmates at the Central Jail in Trivandrum to support her family. Her kids, Sumesh and Neethi, were 3 and 1 respectively, when tragedy struck this family. She toiled and squeezed out even her last penny, but in vain as her husband couldnt be saved.

Area Of Work Her exposure to the life of women convicts in the jail, and their children made her see the other side of life. Amidst adversity, Alice Thomas came forward to help the distressed. Five years back, when one of the inmates handed over her 2 year old kid to Alice, her compassionate heart couldnt say no. With practically nothing, but a caring and loving heart, she accepted the kid (Anup) and brought him up along with her own kids. This was the beginning of Divine Childrens Home (DCH), a warm and loving sanctuary for destitute children at Trivandrum.

Alice Thomas Contribution To The Society At present, Alice Thomas has spread her wings of love to around 30 kids housed at DCH. With a mission to respect and value the dignity of human life, DCH provides shelter, food and education to destitute children without any discrimination whatsoever. The children, neglected by all and sundry, consider themselves to be a part of an extended family.

Many of the kids parents are serving long time in the Central Jail. These kids, whom the society forces into the path of ignominy, and then treats as outcasts, are adopted by DCH and raised in homely atmosphere to grow up as responsible citizens of the society. Children, who could have become a bane to the society without proper upbringing and emotional support, have been given a new direction in life by Alice Thomas. What she has done for destitute kids is not something confined to them alone; it encompasses the whole society we all are part of!!!

Ms. Alice Thomas, Divine Childrens Home, URL: www.divinechildrens.com Email: dch_tvm@yahoo.co.in

Varghese

By Jean Tracy

First, start giving your children age appropriate chores. Perhaps, when theyre 3 years old, theyll start putting their toys away. Maybe theyll get dressed with some help or empty their bath water. As they get older, teach them to set the table, sweep, dust, and help fix meals. By the time theyre nine they can wash and dry clothes, take out the garbage, start dinner and much, much more. You are teaching them to take care of themselves, a valuable skill for life. You are teaching them self-discipline too.

Build Character with Earning Power

Second, teach your kids to earn what they want. If you smother your children with material things today, youll be creating the gripers, groaners, and grumblers of tomorrow. Theyll grow up thinking the world owes them. Do your kids a favor now. Let them earn what they want. Give them a feeling of accomplishment. Youll be teaching self-discipline too.

Build Character with Goals

Third, teach them to create and achieve goals. Goals take consistent effort. Having a goal without effort is like having a front porch without steps. Coach your children to create and climb the stairs step by step. If your child wants to be the pitcher on the baseball team, encourage your child to practice. If your child wants to pass to the next level in gymnastics, encourage your child to practice. If your child wants to learn multiplication tables, encourage your child to practice. The steps to achieving goals takes practice, practice, practice. When you coach your children to achieve their goals, you help them make their dreams come true. You are teaching them self-discipline too.

When children take care of themselves through chores, they build character. When children earn the things they want, they build character. When children create and achieve goals, they build character. With character, they become brilliant, successful, talented and fabulous, all because you led the way.

Receive Jean Tracys Free top-rated Parenting Newsletter, Tips and Tools for Character Builders at: http://www.KidsDiscuss.com