By Sarah Chana Radcliffe
How does a child acquire self-esteem?
Your child's self-esteem is affected by his or her genes (yes, a strong "inner critic" can be inherited along with anxiety and/or depression genes), his or her life experiences (of successes and failures) and YOUR parenting approach. When it comes to the latter (the only thing you can actually control), you can help by providing opportunities for success, providing therapy when the need is indicated, and by offering generous daily positive interactions that convey warmth, acknowledgment and acceptance.
When your teenager is attacking your “baby”..
Sometimes an older child teases or fights with a far younger one. The older one doesn't seem to understand the age gap and the possible harm that could be inflicted. When correcting the bigger one, be sure to show understanding FIRST. "I know he (the little one) is SO frustrating. I understand why you insult/push/yell at him. The problem is that he isn't able to handle all that. He can get hurt. Let's find a way of handling him that will work for you but will still be safe."
