Tag Archives: Self-esteem

Self-Esteem in children

Posted on October 7, 2011 | 1 comment
Dad and daughter

Image by Peter Werkman (www.peterwerkman.nl) via Flickr

I posted some information on Facebook today about girls and their body image. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but girls are bombarded by the wrong message of what makes them attractive and beautiful. Contrary to the tabloids and fashion magazines out there it isn’t how they dress or whether they are tall, short, blonde, brunette, redhead, overweight or skinny. I know, you say, it’s what’s inside. You’re darn right it’s what’s inside. Unfortunately the world isn’t telling them this. So who’s going to do it? Let me tell you that parents and aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas need to be the ones who step up and help our young
girls to be proud of themselves. Loving a child unconditionally is what makes for a healthy body image in young girls. No, that doesn’t mean letting them do whatever they want. It means instructing them in what’t real and what’s not real. Let me say, dads, that you are the most
important person in a girls life to help them to love themselves and to develop that healthy self-esteem. You are the key — telling your child she’s beautiful and showing her is essential to the life of a healthy young woman. Yep, that’s right dad. So get to it!! Step it up. Play an instrumental role in your daughter’s life. You will NEVER
regret it. Who knows…you may be raising the next President of the United States.

Check out our website at http://www.alomaeclc.com

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Stubborn children?

Posted on October 4, 2011 | 2 comments
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Image by norfolkdistrict via Flickr

I’ve been asked what to do when you have stubborn children. I’ve thought about it and a couple of things have come to my mind. One thing that must happen is that you as the parent HAVE to win the battle. It is important that a child knows that you are the boss, that you are in control. Children have a need for safety and they want you to have control. Of course if you asked them they’d say a big resounding NO WAY but research into child development has shown that children thrive when they have boundaries and they want and need limits. It makes them feel safe. I remember when I was growing up. My dad would always make

sure the doors were locked when we went to bed. Now, when I was a kid I didn’t think too much about it, just that that was my Dad’s job, I guess. But when I got married I wanted my husband to lock up every night because it made me feel safe and it made me feel loved and taken care of. I didn’t realize that I wanted that or needed that until my husband didn’t do it. Then I missed it. I explained that to him and he began taking that responsibility to lock up the house.
It makes me feel good to know that he cares about me enough to do that. Well, I digressed a little but it is relevant. Children want you to take control so DO IT. Don’t be unreasonable and if you make a mistake, apologize and move forward. But be firm about what it is you will and will not tolerate. Set house rules. Set limits. Give choices so that they have options but options that you choose. And give consequences. This is extremely important. There will always
be consequences to every choice we make so teach them this when they are young and they will begin to make the right choice based on the consequence. Children are children. They aren’t designed to be in control. That creates chaos. Take charge. That probably won’t cure their stubborness but it’ll sure make you feel better when you know you are doing the right thing to help your child to grow and flourish and
become the wonderful person that they were meant to be. I encourage you to persevere. Hang in there. It’ll get better
Just be consistent.

Check out our website at http://www.alomaeclc.com

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