COMMON CONCERNS

Self-Esteem in Children and Teens

Self-esteem is the perception an individual has of themselves. If a child frequently speaks of themselves negatively or is frequently self-critical, they may be experiencing difficulties related to their self-esteem. People with high self-esteem tend to be enthusiastic, proactive, feel valuable, and seem comfortable with themselves. During childhood and adolescence, self esteem can be particularly vulnerable. Children may engage in negative self-talk, where they criticize themselves and doubt their abilities or compare themselves to others. When young people experience self-esteem struggles, they may be hesitant to share opinions and make decisions based on their fear of judgment. For youth, new experiences and encounters can be seen as obstacles, which may further decrease their self-esteem.

Studies have also revealed a number of indirect factors that can affect a child's self-esteem, such as academic performance, problem solving skills, and social abilities. Learning how to develop strategies around healthy self-esteem can lead to positive outcomes, such as school success, better relationships, improved coping skills, positive perception by others, and overall wellness. At Creative Sky Psychology, we appreciate every child as their own individual. We encourage children to take responsibility for their lives, choices, and reactions. We support children and teens to become aware of unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns in order to reach their full potential. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Soft skills such as empathy, cooperation and problem-solving supports the development of peer relationships in children and teens. Conversely, difficulties with the development of these skills can affect the overall mental well-being of children and adolescents. Bullying, teasing, and exclusion are common social issues which may put children at a higher risk for anxiety, depression, low-self esteem, and other mental health challenges. Our Child Psychologists at Creative Sky Psychology assist children and teenagers in managing challenges related peer relationship difficulties. Our Child Psychologists support individuals to develop tsocial and emotional skills to foster healthy peer relationships and better cope with negative encounters.

  • You may ask yourself how you can help build your child's self-esteem. Since every child is unique, building self-esteem may come easier to some kids than others. Avoid focusing on praising your child. Rather, applaud your child’s effort, progress, and attitudes. Notice what your child is good at and enjoys, and help them develop those skills. Realistically, overpraising will  only take away from the things they succeed at and that took real effort. Focusing on their strengths, rather than weaknesses, is key to building their self-esteem. Children's self-esteem improves when they feel that their actions make a difference to others. By involving them in tasks such as helping at home, school projects, or doing favors for siblings, you can help boost their sense of accomplishment. 

    It is important to spend quality time with your child by playing with them and actively listening to them. Show interest in their activities, projects, and problems, and let them choose the games. Join in on the activities they enjoy. By doing this, children will feel secure and cared for, leading to a boost in self-confidence.

    It is important to remember that peer pressure isn’t always a bad thing. Positive peer pressure can help push your child to do something of benefit. This beneficial aspect of socialization can help to strengthen youth’s academic, behavioral, and social skills. 

  • For all children, the desire to establish secure peer relationships is crucial to their mental health. There are a variety of reasons of why some children experience difficulties when trying to build friendships. In general, children who struggle with making friends fall into three general categories:

    1. They tend to be shy and anxious- children who feel uncomfortable expressing themselves socially can experience difficulties when engaging with friends 

    2. Some children struggle with social difficulties- it’s not that youth don’t want to engage with peers, it’s that they lack the interpersonal skills to do so. In some cases, They might not understand social cues well and act controlling or aggressive, only talking about themselves and not showing interest in others

    3. Underlying issues- Social difficulties in children may be a symptom of underlying issues such as ADHD, Anxiety, ASD, or other neurological disorders.