TeamGirls
Why your child’s self-esteem is important
14 October 2017
Rebecca Sparrow is Suncorp's Team Girls ambassador and a best-selling author, columnist, podcast host and passionate advocate for teenage girls. Bec regularly visits high schools to present to students and has developed resources to help girls navigate through their formative years.
Follow Bec's work on Facebook or visit rebeccasparrow.com. You can even catch Bec on the Team Girls in 10 podcast series.
Healthy self-esteem sets young people up for a healthy and positive future. It gives them a solid foundation for their learning and development by helping them try new things, solve problems and take healthy risks.
Teenagers with good self-esteem tend to display the following behaviours:
- handling positive and negative emotions well
- attempting new tasks and challenges
- acting independently
- assuming responsibility
- taking pride in their achievements
- tolerating frustration
- offering assistance to others.
It is important to remember that self-esteem changes and develops over time. If your child doesn’t show signs of good self-esteem immediately, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing something wrong. It is normal for young people to lack confidence or be disappointed in themselves at times. However, if they view themselves as unable and unworthy, self-esteem issues are at play. Low self-esteem can be especially hard for young people as it is a time when they’re exposed to new life events with tasks and challenges, like starting high school or work, and forming new friendships and relationships.
There are things you can do as a parent to help your child and build their self esteem. Check out our articles Supporting your Child and Five Steps to Help Boost Your Daughter's Body Image to learn about being there for your child and helping her love the person she sees in the mirror.
If your child, or anyone you know is having issues with self-esteem, confidence or mental or physical health, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
This content includes the views and opinions of a third-party, and does not necessarily reflect the views of Suncorp. Information is intended to be of a general nature only and any advice has been prepared without taking into account any person's particular objectives, personal situation or needs.
The information is intended to be of general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law, we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon the information. Please make your own enquiries.
