Teen Self Esteem -- How Parents Can Help ThemTeen's Self Esteem: the ChallengesInundated from all sides by images of perfect beauty and perfect body, young girls and boys find it difficult to cope with the implied challenge cleverly wove into these icons: and the result is lowered teen's self esteem, poor body image, lingering self doubt and fear of rejection. - Is unable or unwilling to act independently, - Is not sure about his or her capabilities, - May feel that she is unloved, - Is not able to deal effectively with life's small frustrations, - Blames others for all his problems, etc. On the other hand, healthy self esteem makes him an independent person capable of taking responsibility for his actions, comfortable with himself, and capable of loving and be loved. As a parent, you serve a vital role in shaping how your child sees themselves. You have an important part to play in maintaining your teen's self esteem and body image. Don't forget, that teenagers consider parents to be their number one choice for getting support. Steps to Improve Teen's Self EsteemAvoid Negative Comments: Your child is listening very carefully to what you say about him or her. Your offhand comment, say about your child’s weight, intelligence or other abilities may mean nothing to you, but in your child's mind it may stick. Try to rephrase even negative remarks in positive language. If your child is overweight, suggest that they should start jogging or why don't they join a gym. Some parents go to the other extreme, and start putting down their teen with ridicule even for minor lapse. 'You are no good', 'I do not expect anything better from you', 'you are as dumb as your mother…or father, or uncle', etc., etc. Try to avoid this kind of language—always criticize the action and not the person. This leaves space for your child to make an effort to be better next time. Show Respect: Many parents think that problems with teen's self esteem and body image are isolated to girls; this is not true. While it may not be as prevalent, boys do develop poor body images and eating disorders as well. Boys may also be pushed by the influence of media to develop muscle mass causing them to work out excessively or take steroids. Be sure to encourage a healthy self-image for your sons as well as daughters. The best thing you can do to improve your teen's self esteem is to compliment their good attributes. Don't treat them as children, treat them with respect. Emphasize the positive qualities in your teen on a regular basis. If you make compliments often enough, slowly they will also start to believe in them. To inculcate self confidence, repose confidence in your child. Teach Positive Self Talk: The self esteem of a person is greatly affected by the nature of inner dialogue that is going on in one's head. A teen's self esteem will improve greatly if parents encourage her and teach her the power of positive self talk. Teach her that saying 'I will give it my best' is a lot better than 'I stand no chance'. Or, 'This time round I couldn't make it, but I will have better luck next time' is better than 'Hey, I stand no chance here.' See, how the same situation can be rephrased, and how one sentence changes it's color, right? Generally, a teen gets his thinking patterns from one of his parents. If you see that a negative pattern is taking shape in his mind, then teach him to think positively, and encourage him to rephrase every difficult situation in a positive way. Ask him to always think about his strengths and not always think about his weaknesses. Nobody is perfect. Ask him to always work on his weak points, try to overcome them and move ahead. Resources For Teens' Self Esteem IssuesThough the times are such that media tries it's best to distort reality and convince us of the reality of the unreal, there are lots of things that parents can do and raise their teens' self esteem and nurture a positive body image. If a teenager starts suffering from problems like depression, anxiety or lack of interest in activities, then you can seek the help of Live Professional Counselors Dr. Lehman's Total Transformation is for those parents who are at their wits' ends and don't know how to deal with their defiant teens. Further Reading Boost Self Esteem With Positive Self Talk Improving Self Esteem: Activities To Cultivate Positive Self Love Reading Teenage Stress: A Guide To Their Parents When Your Teen's Friends Give You Jitters: Things Every Parent Should Dos Teens Drinking and Driving: 5 Things Parents Should Do Teen Stress - How Not To Handle it The Power of Positive Affirmations Stress Relief Games: Do They Relax Or Tax You? Practice Self Hypnosis for Stress and Anxiety Relief Aromatherapy for stress relief: How Natural Scents Change Your Moods Back to Sponsored Links
|
