Children need many things from us adults as they grow and develop. Two of the most important things we can give is our attention and our acceptance. The provision of these are essential for the development of positive self-esteem. Self esteem is the feeling of confidence and pride that comes from being a useful, productive individual.

Most of us know that it is important for us to praise children for their accomplishments and successes. We also know that children need discipline when they do not conform with our expectations. What we sometime fail to do is to put the two concepts together.

We must consider why we discipline children. In most cases people discipline to teach the child a lesson. We must be sure that this purpose does not become confuse with the need to punish. Punishment serves very little purpose except to generate anger.

When you are disciplining children you should strive to find a way to teach a new skill or provide the child with different options the next time he/she is put in the same situation. Life is about choices and the most important thing that we can teach children is how to make these choices responsibly!

Be an audience for your child's successes and a support for his/her failures. Be teacher, a role model and an example of how to treat people respectfully.

If you provide your child with the elements that are essential to building self esteem, you will also grow as a person and will feel wonderful!

Deborah Garbett
Self Esteem Seminar