Always important, but especially now, kids need to
know they’re capable and appreciated.
Covid-19
has changed a lot, but some things remain the same regardless of the pandemic.
For instance, kids still need encouragement and support to feel confident about
their place in the world, and their capabilities within it, especially if that
child has special needs. In the chaos and stress of raising a family in a
pandemic, it’s easy to overlook this, particularly if a child does not yet
possess the vocabulary to articulate those needs.
Teacher,
early intervention specialist, and author Amanda Morin has created
an easy-to-follow checklist of seven things parents can do to help reinforce or
bolster children’s self-esteem, and, by extension, keep the home atmosphere
positive and constructive.
First
and foremost, not surprisingly, is talking to your child, and not just about
them, but also about you, your own
struggles, your little triumphs, and your ongoing work to improve things. Of
course discretion in this area is important. Talking frankly about, say,
working to improve one’s tennis game? Yes. About reining in one’s late night
spending habits? Maybe not so much.
READ MORE: Build self-esteem in your tween
Especially
with the ongoing stress of the pandemic, tempers can flare, and when parents
themselves feel insecure, the impulse to be critical can be overwhelming. Here
Morin offers salient advice: ‘Try offering your child a specific goal to work
toward. For instance, instead of saying ‘Why do you always leave your clothes
in such a mess?’ you can say, ‘Your clothes are all over the place. You can
come back to your game after you put away your laundry.’”
A
“growth mindset” is important, and the article offers a helpful download of
“growth mindset activities.” This term applies to the concept that a child – or
an adult – can improve. It seems simple to just be mindful not to say, “I will
never get this right,” or to steer a child away from going there, but in an
unguarded or weak moment, negative absolutes can slip out. Morin advises: “Your
child might say, ‘I can’t read that. It’s too hard because I have dyslexia.’
You can respond by saying, ‘Yes, reading is hard for you, and you can’t read
that book yet. Let’s formulate a plan to get better at it.’”
Other
simple reminders, like praising your child, and teaching them it’s OK to fail,
are part of Morin’s very helpful guide.
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