5 Ways to Develop Your Child’s Self Esteem Copyright © 2005 Heaven
Ministries Angie Lewis
I
have been profoundly blessed with three sons, ages 16, 17 and 21.
They are almost all grown up, and it makes me absolutely miserable to
think that in a few years I won’t have my three big guys around forever and
that saddens my heart. I’m very close with my sons because I have had the most
wonderful opportunity to home educate them. My sons have never stepped foot in a
public school. They are still virgins; they don’t cuss, smoke, drink, or do
drugs of any kind. They are polite, respectful, Intelligent, and honest young
men. Did
you know that in general home-educated children have better self-images? If your
child is home schooled there is no bullying going on, no drugs being offered, no
bad crowds, no sexual temptations, and no peer pressure for them to contend to.
It’s great! Here are five ways to
develop your child’s self esteem.
If
your child is home educated he becomes what it is he is! His character is
allowed to develop in its natural way, without the consequence of another’s
identity confusing him or her from mounting peer pressure. If your child is home
educated his individual personality will come from his environment in the home
so it is very important that this environment be well supported and preserved by
the parents by being good examples. Did
you know that by the age of 14 most girls in school are pressured to have sex?
Isn’t it also true that there are condom dispensers in the public school
hallways? It is absolutely incredible the pressures our children are subjected to
every single day! Drugs, bad
attitudes, liars, cheaters, rapists, scammers, and murderers abound in the
schools. Isn’t this reason enough for you to take control of your child’s
life?
If
a parent lacks self-confidence to teach their children at home they will
probably feel uneasy about home schooling and not do anything about it.
I felt uneasy teaching my sons at first too, but I knew that it was the
right thing to do for them and our family. I was right. And you will be right
too. Did
you know that with the right encouragement and positive affirmations the
home-educated child can achieve anything and everything his or her heart desires. He
will not have an attitude problem, low self-worth, sexual temptations, or
addictions standing in his way. Ask
any mother or dad who home-schools. It doesn’t take a college
degree to teach your children the basics of learning Math, Science, and English.
What it does take though is a parent who wants to see their child become all
that they can become in life! What
I’m saying is ANYONE can teach his or her child at home. You can teach your
child in one day what it takes the public school system in several weeks! Home education is much more
then having your nose in a textbook though. It is about giving your child what
most children don’t get in public school, self worth! Parents can give their
children the excellent self-image that is missing in society today by taking the
time to teach, encourage, and praise their child’s efforts. Parents can be the
promoter and supporter of what their child becomes in life. You can educate your
child at home and become a better person/parent because of it. You really can!
This is what happens in
public school every single day. Peer
pressure is comparing. It is a measuring-up system that sizes up each and every
child and then assigns him or her a category or label. These labels are jock,
goat-roper, pothead, stoner, geek, druggie, nerd, bully, whore, and the list
goes on. Young minds that are still learning and growing will do things they
shouldn’t just so they can be accepted into the group and label of their
choice. The good news is if our children our home educated none of this garbage
exists.
This
goes without saying that we parents are the encourager for our children. We
should know and seek out our child’s endeavors and praise them for the
accomplishments he or she does, big or small. It means so much to a child when a
busy parent takes the time to reassure, praise, and encourage. It can raise a
child’s self esteem ten-fold and give them a positive attitude in life. We
build our children’s self-confidence by being in tune with what they are all
about. Who are they? By walking with them we are allowing our child to become
what it is they are instead of what we want him to become. A parent’s support
actually tells the child how much they are valued for who they are in life.
We have to reinforce what we say and do by being consistent with what we say and do. This is the strengthening support that will establish the level of self worth in our child and what he or she does with that self worth. Whether they want to be a teacher, scientist, fireman, doctor, or archeologist, the support from us when he is young will give him the encouragement to meet his goals, ambitions, and aspirations in his life. |