What are the main causes of low self esteem in children?

Answer 1

Parents, guardians and teachers can pass down low self-esteem to their children without realising it.

Indirectly:
If a parent constantly talks about how well other people are doing, and 'why can't we be like that?' or 'what are we doing wrong?' etc... These are silent messages to a child that other people are better than 'us'.

Another indirect method of encouraging low self-esteem is to neglect a child. By not spending time with them and talking to them about what's going on in their lives, we send them a message that they are not important enough to warrant our attention. They begin to believe (subconsciously) that your time is too valuable for them, and they are not worth enough.

Directly:
More extreme reasons why a child may inherit low self-esteem is that some parents tell their child directly that they are 'stupid', 'not very good at school', 'not sociable enough', 'too much of a tomboy', 'too girly', etc...

Even more severly, a parent / guardian / teacher may verbally or physically abuse a child. This get's the message across very quickly and thoroughly.

Either indirectly or directly, parents / guardians / teachers can make a child feel less of a person when a child is made to believe that they do not measure up to the 'ideal' that is expected of them, they very easily lose their self-esteem because children are impressionable. Their views of the world, and where they fit into it, are being constructed.

That level of burden should not be placed on children.

On the flip-side. The best way to BOOST a child's self-esteem, is to point out their best attributes, and their best features. Encourage them to work harder at things they find difficult, and that you will be there to support them no matter what. Let them know that they don't have to be good at everything, but make sure to highlight the things they are good at already. Show them love by spending time with them. Hug them and cuddle them. Direct and indirect confirmation of their importance as a person will build their self-esteem and they will do well in life.

Answer 2

Children need allot of love and encouragement. They need to feel validated, and when they accomplish things, they should be praised. They need to be told that they are capable of doing many things, and told they are beautiful. They need to feel security from their family and home life. Children should not criticized or condemned. If a child does not perform well in school, this can effect his self esteem. In this case, the child needs help and encouragement. But, it should begin in the home. Do not let anyone batter the child mentally or physically. Find out what is effecting the child's self esteem and work on it.

Answer 3

Other children, low self image. A weak support base. I didn't suffer from low self esteem as a child until my family moved to a different town and I had to go to a new school. Something that helps is finding a hobby that the child excels at and makes them feel good about themselves and their accomplishments. Even things that we see as trivial matter to kids. Make them feel good about what makes them different from there classmates instead of having them feel self conscious about these differences. Teach them to celebrate rather than criticize themselves.

Answer 4

Schools have alot to answer for. When a child does not fit into the perfect mould that the teachers expect they will be ousted for the others. The will feel stupid. Kids are cruel and society does not tolerate toughening up the weaklings anymore, so they stay weak. Even if home is not great if they get along well at school they have an escape and can better cope.

Answer 5

Dont do something that you might end up regretting. There are many women out there they have done porn and even only posed for porn that have later on wished they had never done it. Also if you insist on posting naked pictures to the internet you should wait until you are no longer a minor. Because depending on where you live it can be considered a crime to post such photos while you are underage. The reason for this is because provocative images of underage people are geared toward the excitement of pedophiles. Thats something you need to avoid. But do as wish, just remember that there can be consequences to your actions.

Answer 6

They have parents with low self esteem.

Answer 7

inability to form positive affirmation because of conflicts in parental teaching from both or one or neither or in conflict each can run over the other at the wrong time and it is out of the question what was the question of which one was the causation because in retention it (lie) to us to save it own intention, where as had the positive affirmations held the enlightenment and guidance and pursuit of balance in their place in the family and beyond,many children never were children and perceive strangely the caring ons' of adults trying to related to child that never had a childhood and flatly resent the implication of it now, too little to late

Answer 8

Parents can be verbally abusive to their children and it can cause their children to think that they are not good enough. Their children, sometimes, don't try to accomplish even small goals because they don't want to be put down again.

Answer 9

Parents who don't respect their children as people.

Answer 10

Not enough parental care and attention. Not enough positive reinforcement and affection.
Left alone as a baby, crying and no one comes.