Self-esteem

Self-esteem plays a crucial role in
teenagers happiness, self-worth
and overall development. Positive
self-esteem encourages trying new
things, taking healthy risks and
solving problems. Building self-
esteem takes time and isn’t always
easy, giving compliments is crucial in
encouraging them to know they can
improve their self-esteem.

Gain New Skills

Adolescence is a time of huge growth
but can also highlight areas where
your teen struggles – physically,
academically, socially, or emotionally.
These struggles can lead to feelings
of negativity. When you identify an
area of concern or notice a challenge,
encourage your teen to see this as
an opportunity to grow, learn and
expand their interests and abilities.
Look for ways to build on things your
teen is already passionate about.

Failure

Mistakes and setbacks can crush delicate
self-esteem. Your voice is essential in
these situations. Take a deep breath, be
calm and open up the conversation with
your teen. Ask questions: ‘Where did
things get off track? What did you learn
from this situation?’ When teens view
failures as learning experiences, they can
overcome obstacles in their paths.

Practice at home

Create a safe space for your teen to
process difficult situations. Give them
freedom to talk about challenges, peer
conflict, and gripes. Explore ways of
managing situations with confidence,
addressing others in a way that is
respectful and keeps their
self-worth intact.

Listen

Listen to what your teen is saying. Don’t
make assumptions, judgements, or jump
to conclusions. Begin with empathy,
putting yourself in your teen’s shoes.
You don’t have to agree with your teen’s
perspective. Be willing to listen and
answer any questions your teenager
has about their body. It’s tempting to
downplay their worries, but teenagers
want to be heard and taken seriously.
Show them that you understand their
concerns.

Love

Make sure your teen understands that
your love does not depend on their
grades, performance, friends, etc.
When we tie love to performance,
we miss the essence of unconditional
love that it is freely given because our
teenager is enough just as they are.