Signs of Low Self Esteem

Signs of Low Self-Esteem in Children

By KATE McCARTHY

Feb. 23, 2010

There are a number of factors that can contribute to low self-esteem in children, including height, as Dr. Richard Besser reported today on "Good Morning America."

Good self-esteem is an important factor in raising healthy children. Children who have good self-esteem are more likely to act independently, handle both positive and negative emotions, assume responsibility and appropriately handle peer pressure, according to the National Mental Health Information Center at the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Additionally people with good self-esteem are more likely to create healthy, secure and honest relationships and are less likely to develop eating disorders, depression or other mental health conditions according to the Mayo Clinic.

Below are some tips to help you identify if your child has low self-esteem and what you can do to help him or her.

Identifying Low Self-Esteem in Children

According to KidsHealth, part of the Nemours Foundation, a child's self-esteem changes as he or she grows up. But the organization has a few signs parents should look for:

Challenges can become a source of anxiety for children with self-esteem problems. The children are usually easily frustrated, want to give up and make negative statements about themselves, such as "I'm stupid."

The foundation also says children with low self-esteem are usually pessimistic, do not want to try new things and are highly critical of themselves.

How Parents Can Help Build Self-Esteem in Children

Parents should look for opportunities to praise their children when they have done a good job or put forth a lot of effort, according to the National Mental Health Information Center.

Affection and spontaneity can also help your son or daughter's self-esteem, according to KidsHealth.

Laugh at yourself. Demonstrating to your children that it is OK to laugh at yourself shows the importance of a sense of humor, according to National Mental Health Information Center.

The center also advises helping your child re-think things in a positive way instead of focusing negative feelings on themselves.

Have your children take responsibility for their own problems. You can help them think of other solutions and answer their questions, but solving a problem can bolster your child's confidence, according to National Mental Health Information Center.

KidsHealth also suggested seeking professional help for your son or daughter's self-esteem problems.

Low Self-esteem in Children

Low self-esteem in kids is something that is very common and is also taken for granted. A child with low self-esteem is a very sorry sight, and no parents want to see their child in that condition. Sadly, many a time, they are the reason behind it, and they don't realize that they are the only help. This article elaborately deals with self-esteem issues in children and how parents can deal with it.

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Self-esteem can be simply put as "how you feel about yourself - how you feel about who you are, the way you act, and how you look." When a person does not think too highly of himself, that person is said to have low self-esteem. Self-esteem makes a person what he is. It is in most cases the outline of a person's personality and it is directly related to the confidence the person carries within. So, very obviously, a lower self-esteem leads to a lower level of self-confidence.

It is often observed that children and young people who are exceptionally loud, bold and rebellious, suffer from a low self-esteem. Same is true the other way round also. These people with their behavior try to hide what they actually are and end up spending most of their life pretending to be someone else. Having a sense of self-worth is as important as being educated.

A child suffering with low esteem often isolates himself/herself from the world, giving out a signal of being shy. At least most parents dismiss it as shyness. Low self-esteem causes developmental delays in many cases because children are scared to interact, ask questions, and they will avoid being a part of anything that needs interacting with the human race. Jokes apart, the shyness of a child is crippling and often comes in the way of the child's growth. Imagine what happens when a child doesn't ask questions to clear up his/her doubts, and lives with all the wrong information. So, in short, if your child is not a happy-go-lucky sweetheart, you should really check out for some problems. It is okay to be shy, but there are types of this attribute that need to be taken care of, because consequences of low self-esteem are always disastrous.

There are many problems that come in when a child suffers from low self-esteem, and it is only the parents and the other caretakers who can help. And to help, the parents have to notice the signs of low self-esteem in their children.

Symptoms of Low Self-esteem in Kids

Shyness: A child suffering from low self-esteem is overly shy and will avoid meeting new people or facing new situations, till death. What parents have to understand is, that this extreme shyness is not normal. Shyness to some extent is acceptable, but if the child refuses to warm up at all, it should be considered a warning sign.

Insecurity: Low self-esteem often gives rise to insecurities. An overly clingy child is often a sign of low self-esteem. By being clingy, a child ensures that a particular parent or a caretaker is always around. That way the child feels protected, and this also ensures that he/she doesn't have to talk to someone else.

Fear: Unnecessary fears often erupt from low self-esteem. These children are afraid of trying new things, because they have already assumed that they will fail, and in most cases, they pity themselves. Normally, children are carefree and never think twice before jumping from a wall, but a child with low self-esteem may be too careful and not at all adventurous in the backyard.

Procrastination: This is one major attribute