Healthy Self Image

How to help your children build a strong and healthy self image

A healthy self image is not something that you can
build for your child..

It is a by-product of perceptions and reactions that your child forms him/herself as a result of many varied interactions and experiences over time.

It is not the result of a child's achievements,
but rather an inner knowing
of being valued and accepted
for who they are, not what they do,
and knowing they are seen, recognized, valued and heard.

A healthy, positve self image requires that parents have an awareness about creating opportunities for their children which allow development naturally.

The importance of a healthy self image for children cannot be underestimated.

As parents we have many opportunities throughout each day to allow our children to experience a positve sense of self. We can use these moments to help them to learn, know and experience for themselves their real value.

Children present these circumstances to us each time they ask us to notice them throughout the day - and that is usually constantly!! They are seeking our awareness of them, that we see them, acknowledge them, watch them, appreciate them, appreciate them and hear them.

As we learn to verbalise our experience of them, we teach them to value us back.

As one mother pointed out -
raising your children positively is like belonging to a mutual appreciation society!

Many behavioural problems in older children stem from a negative self image.

The Importance of a Healthy Self Image -

A child wants such simple things:

To be loved
To matter
To be heard

As children grow and become aware of their own identity as separate from their parents, we can help them to connect with their sense of self by being their mirror and reflecting them back to themselves.

A negative self image is perpetuated and enforced within us by a negative inner critical voice.

Make the voice your child hears within a positive, loving and trustworthy voice.

Create strong, clear and consistent boundaries so that your child learns to trust and feel secure.

As parents, have the awareness to work consistently on your own sense of positive self image so that your child learns from what they see, know and experience.