I was speaking on a parenting podcast a few weeks ago. We got into a conversation about nurturing our children's self-worth. I mentioned that I believe our job is not to teach our children to be happy, but rather to teach them how to face life exactly as it is. Rejection is inevitable, but it should never affect our sense of self-worth. There will be days filled with sadness, rejection, and disappointment, but there will also be days filled with happiness, joy, and recognition for our accomplishments.
We’re not here to shield our children from life’s hardships, but rather to teach them how to get through every experience - no matter what that may be. We need to teach them how to face their fears and how to respond to rejection. Let’s face it; we’ll all experience some form of rejection throughout our lives. It’s part of our journey, lessons, and growth. The only thing that we can control is how we respond to these circumstances.
So, the question becomes, “how do we teach children not to let rejection affect their sense of self-love and self-worth?” This is a tough one!
I believe developing self-worth in children is one of the most important foundations for their happiness. This will help them deal with frustration, rejection, and self-confidence. They must trust their abilities and qualities because this leads to making better choices. When we allow our child to make their own decisions and choices, it helps them gain confidence in their judgment - for example, letting them choose the book they want to read, having them decide on their outfit for the day, and even giving them the choice of two different meals. When they feel that we are confident in their decisions, it affects their sense of self-worth.
We want children to feel confident in their abilities. We can do this by remembering that when we teach our children a new skill, such as setting the table or tying their shoes, we’re teaching them to believe in their ability to try new things on their own, and we’re also giving them the confidence to learn new skills.
We just need to try our best not to step in too often to “help” and instead encourage their efforts and coach them through how to do it by themselves.
I also believe that teaching our children affirmations, positive self-talk, and meditation are excellent tools for building self-love and self-worth. Teaching children these skills early on leads to personal development that's crucial to their fulfillment in life later on. These tools are guaranteed to help in every aspect of life!
After teaching these skills for years, I have witnessed their confidence soar! These strategies are crucial for self-development and provides them with the tools necessary for emotional and mental well-being!
Until next time…build confidence in our young generation!!
