Your Way of Parenting Impacts Your Child’s Self-Esteem!

posted on Apr 02, 2024

We at Gurukul The School can confidently state that it is this nurturing environment that caters to raising independent, confident, and secure adults with strong self-esteem and self-acceptance.

It can be surprising, but most of the behaviors and beliefs adults carry are significantly influenced by their childhood experiences. This is why most therapists want to learn more about their client’s childhood and related experiences. Having said that, a very commonly seen problem is that while all parents pursue their unique parenting style to raise their kids in a better way, most don’t understand how deeply their actions and words can shape their children’s self-esteem as they grow older. You can view self-esteem as the foundation on which your kids will build their future relationships, resilience, career, confidence, etc.

Hence, anyone who wants to see their child flourish in all areas of their life must pay attention to their way of parenting. We at Gurukul The School, recognized as the best cbse school in Ghaziabad, believe parenting should be based on mindfulness, empathy, unconditional love, and a deep understanding of how actions and words can either nurture or erode their child’s perception of themselves. If you’re wondering how your unique parenting style influences your kid’s self-esteem, the following points will help solve your doubts.

• Unconditional Love and Acceptance

We believe children can thrive when they’re loved and accepted for who they are, not only for their achievements and failures. When parents embrace this parenting style, they find it easier to accept their child’s strengths, weaknesses, unique qualities, differences, etc., creating a safe environment where kids are open to exploring their interests and taking risks without fearing rejection.

We at Gurukul The School can confidently state that it is this nurturing environment that caters to raising independent, confident, and secure adults with strong self-esteem and self-acceptance.

Parents who follow a parenting style opposite to unconditional love and acceptance often instill fragile self-esteem in their kids. They grow up constantly seeking external validation and would often run after achievements that don’t even align with their passion, values, and strengths. It also evolves as one of the biggest contributors to anxiety, fear of failure, low self-confidence, and greater susceptibility to peer pressure. 

• Positive Reinforcement and Encouragement

Children always look up to their parents as role models, especially during their early developmental years. Even if parents don’t notice, kids closely watch their parent’s activities, way of talking, approach to handling difficult situations, and almost everything. Hence, when kids grow in an environment that’s fuelled by positive reinforcement and encouragement, they develop a growth mindset and a heightened sense of self-efficacy.

When parents acknowledge and praise their kid’s hard work, progress, and perseverance over only results, kids learn that their worth isn’t defined by perfection but by their willingness to try, learn, and grow. On the contrary, parents who shower excessive praise or criticism based only on their child’s results can severely affect their self-worth. It may make kids internalize feelings of inadequacy and instill a fear of taking risks, halting their personal growth and development.

• Open Communication and Active Listening

Communication is a critical aspect of every relationship. The parent-child relationship is no exception to it. Thus, parents must pay special attention to how they talk to their kids and vice-versa. We at Gurukul The School have always encouraged parents to incorporate open communication and active listening into their parenting approach because it directly influences a child’s self-esteem. Children who feel heard and understood develop a strong sense of self-worth and confidence. It starts reflecting on their actions, decision-making, and words, ensuring they don’t settle for anything less.

Parents can follow it by validating and acknowledging their kid’s emotions, even if they seem irrational or intense. However, parents who dismiss/invalidate/fail their child’s emotions, unknowingly compel kids to internalize the belief that their feelings and perspectives are unimportant, contributing to their self-doubt and a reluctance to assert themselves. It creates fearful adults who fail to understand their worth and cannot take a stand for themselves.     

• Autonomy and Independence

Some parents give age-appropriate autonomy to their kids so that they become independent as they grow. We at Gurukul The School firmly believe that it is one of the best parenting styles because it teaches children to trust themselves from a young age and acquaints them with the power to make the right decisions. It not only nurtures their self-esteem but also strengthens their critical thinking, problem-solving, and risk-taking abilities. 

However, if parents become overprotective or overly controlling, kids may not fully tap into their highest potential and often doubt their ability to make decisions for themselves. Children who never had autonomy during childhood often feel helpless, incapable, and overly reliant on others, damaging their quality of life and future prospects for a rewarding life.

Conclusion

Nurturing a child’s self-esteem is every parent’s prime responsibility. This single aspect greatly influences a child’s overall life and can determine whether they’ll succeed later in life or not. That being said, we at Gurukul The School, recognized as the best school in Ghaziabad, would like to advise parents to maintain patience throughout this journey because it is an ongoing process that demands self-reflection and a willingness to adapt/grow alongside the child. Parents new to this journey are advised to foster an environment that’s fuelled by unconditional love, positive reinforcement, open communication, and healthy self-acceptance. Trust us; it is the most fruitful way to make children feel empowered to become their best versions.