Do you worry about your daughter’s confidence? That she’ll grow up to know her worth and avoid people who might be toxic in her life? That’s a fear most moms have for their kids, but how can you, as a mom, ensure you’re raising kids who are confident about themselves?

What is Self-Esteem? 

Self-esteem is about so much more than how you value yourself. It’s about feeling good about yourself and having acceptance for who you are. Because when you value yourself, you won’t spend time with people who don’t value you. It’s simply not the right fit, and you’ll feel it instantly.

But when people don’t have positive self-esteem, they end up seeking external validation from others to fill that void. This can lead to many a slippery slope where you battle to prove your worth to someone who is unwilling or able to see it. This can lead to many problems, including abusive relationships and addiction.  

Why Self-Esteem Is Important for Young Girls

When a child has positive self-esteem, she feels confident and capable. She can be proud of her accomplishments and isn’t afraid to try new things. Kids who are confident and secure are more likely to be self-motivators, which means they’ll gladly take on new responsibilities and learn from their mistakes as they go. Similarly, a confident child will stand up for herself and ask for help when she needs it. 

How to Encourage Positive Self-Esteem

The best and fastest way to help your daughter develop positive self-esteem is to challenge them to work towards a goal. As they see their hard work pay off over time, they can see what it takes to face new challenges and that they can handle it. 

One of the most valuable lessons you can teach your daughter is that it’s okay to fail, and the failure does not determine worth or value.

And you can easily teach these lessons through everyday circumstances. Teach your daughter how to care for her body by eating healthy, whole foods. Teach her that proper nutrition and superfoods for women are more important than body shape or size. But don’t make food an issue you fight about or it could start sending the wrong message. Simply leading by example is a great way to show your children that they can be healthy without a lot of effort.

You can also teach her how to cope with stress in ways that are healthy and productive. For example, you may help your daughter develop a meditation or yoga practice from a young age to deal with stress. This can decrease the likelihood that she’ll turn to substance abuse as a form of self-medication later in life. Substance abuse is a problem among teens, and it’s linked to stress and anxiety.

We all want the best for our daughters, and the best gift we can give them is positive self-esteem and self-worth. When they’re raised to feel good about themselves, everything in life will be easier, and they’ll carry those good feelings throughout adulthood. 

Self-esteem and self-worth aren’t magic cure-alls for every problem, but they do help every problem become more manageable. How will you teach your daughter to discover positive self-esteem and confidence?