| The importance of a healthy self image for children | | | | * Through acknowledgment and praise of their |
| cannot be underestimated. Many behavioral problems | | | | achievements |
| in older children stem from a negative self image. | | | | * Through giving them a deep sense of connection to |
| One of the greatest gifts we can give to our children | | | | us as parents. |
| is an awareness, as their parents, of creating | | | | * By allowing relationships to grow and develop with |
| opportunities for our children to develop a strong self | | | | grandparents and other family members. |
| image. | | | | * By making regular one on one time with them. |
| A healthy self image is not something that you can | | | | Children know that what their parents put lots of time |
| build for your child. | | | | into is truly important to their parents. |
| It is a by-product of perceptions and reactions that | | | | Let your children know that they are truly important to |
| your child forms him/herself as a result of many varied | | | | you. Tell them as well as showing them. |
| interactions and experiences over time. | | | | Children learn by example and modeling. |
| It is not the result of a child's achievements, but rather | | | | Show them in your relationship with your partner how |
| an inner knowing of being valued and accepted for | | | | to cherish another person's self image. |
| who they are not what they do, and knowing they are | | | | Model to them how fulfilling relationships create a |
| seen, recognized, valued and heard. | | | | strong sense of self image. |
| A child wants such simple things: | | | | Make statements your children can learn from such as: |
| To be loved | | | | "I felt really good about myself when I realized you |
| To matter | | | | rushed home to spend time with me". |
| To be listened to | | | | Our strength of purpose arises out of a sense of our |
| As children grow and become aware of their own | | | | identity, which brings with it the power to initiate and |
| identity as separate from their parents, we can help | | | | make choices. |
| them to connect with their sense of self by being their | | | | We spend much of our lifetime involved in this journey |
| mirror and reflecting them back to themselves. | | | | around self image. |
| We can reflect to them: | | | | As St Francis of Assisi once wrote, |
| * their worth and value | | | | "Who we are looking for is who is looking". |
| * their uniqueness | | | | Negative Self Image |
| * their relationship to life through nature | | | | A negative self image is perpetuated and enforced |
| * their relationship to extended family | | | | within us by a negative inner critical voice. |
| * their sense of adventure and risk taking | | | | Make the voice your child hears within a positive, loving |
| * their skills and talents | | | | and trustworthy voice. |
| * their inner beauty | | | | Create strong, clear and consistent boundaries so that |
| We do this by giving them the opportunities to feel, | | | | your child learns to trust and feel secure. |
| know and experience this for themselves. | | | | As parents, have the awareness to work consistently |
| * By taking the time to tell them about their special | | | | on your own sense of positive self image so that your |
| needs. | | | | child learns from what they see, know and experience. |