I wrestled with exactly how to title this blog and this was the best I could come up with. I want to write about how gaining skills and mastering some things is a huge benefit to a child’s developing self-esteem. A child doesn’t have to be fabulous at everything, but parents can help encourage interests and the development of skills. Getting good at and mastering skills and “things” is an important step in a child’s personal development.
I am not talking about talent here, but more about how when we learn how to do things well—sometimes very ordinary things—we gain confidence and a comfort-level with ourselves. Parents can encourage children to learn and master all sorts of skills and activities—from washing dishes and putting away clean clothes, to math and writing, to caring for pets or a bicycle repairs. Each time a child masters a skill or becomes good at something; his self-esteem and self-worth are encouraged. The more competent and skillful we become, the more useful, independent, and secure we feel—and this is a great gift to give our children!
After all, the ultimate goal of parenting is to help guide our children along an ever-evolving path to independence. Think of all the things that you do in a day and how important it is to you that you are good at your job, parenting, taking care of a house. Even learning to make a great omelet or write an adequate thank-you note can contribute to a child’s growing sense of self-worth. Instead of letting children dabble and get away without learning basic skills and tasks well—parents can have a big influence just by encouraging children to stick with things until they get good at them. It does not have to be fancy, exciting, or glamorous things—learning to do everyday things well is important too!
See Also: Building Self-Esteem in Your Children
Teaching Your Kids Resourcefulness