Preferred Consumer | Healthy Living | Family Health | Children | Emotional Health



Emotional Health

A child's emotional health is mainly affected by his or her family and peers. Families can do much to enhance the self esteem of their children, including teaching them how to get along with their peers and how to handle peer pressure.

Good self esteem does not come from being perfect or having huge accomplishments. Healthy self esteem involves a person liking him or herself, imperfections and all. Self esteem is built daily through small accomplishments, healthy relationships, and behaving in a way that is consistent with the individual's values and belief system.

Enhancing Self Esteem

  • Focus on the good experiences of the day
  • Focus on the individual's good qualities
  • Give very specific compliments
  • Encourage children and help them with homework
  • Praise efforts
  • Encourage individuality
  • Talk about the child's feelings with him or her
  • Be fair
  • Don't use belittling or condescending communication
  • Use positive rewards and negative reinforcement when appropriate
  • Set boundaries and rules to provide stability
  • Show affection and love
  • Help the child set goals for their actions and behavior (i.e. Being honest, kind, loving, helpful, responsible, respectful, and forgiving)
  • Have quality family time for bonding
  • Give children some responsibilities that are appropriate for their ages

Friend Facts

  • Accept you for who you are
  • Share common interests, but enjoy your differences
  • Share trust with you
  • Are supportive and encourage you

How to deal with peer pressure

If the family does its job in building the child's self esteem, the child will be more able to handle peer pressure to do the wrong thing. Doing the wrong thing can include drugs, alcohol, stealing, and sex, but it can also include doing or acting in any way that is not consistent with the individual's values and belief system.

Talk to your children- maintain open and trusting communication.

Ask questions about your child's life including activities and what his or her friends are like. Ask why one person is a friend and another is not. Get to know their friends.