Make your child feel special

Childhood is a crucial stage in the development of identity and self-esteem. The emotional and social foundations established during these years form the basis for mental and emotional health throughout life.

In this session, we will explore the importance of making your child feel special, addressing how parents and caregivers can nurture healthy self-esteem and build meaningful connections that last over time.

The Importance of Feeling Special in Childhood

Making a child feel special involves creating an environment that fosters self-acceptance and self-confidence. This sense of specialness not only contributes to the child's immediate emotional well-being but also lays the foundation for healthy relationships and a strong sense of identity.

Building Healthy Self-Esteem

• Praise Based on Personal Traits: When making a child feel special, it’s essential to focus praise on their personal traits. Acknowledging their kindness, creativity, effort, and other qualities promotes self-esteem based on meaningful and lasting attributes.

• Recognition of Individual Achievements: In addition to personal qualities, recognizing and celebrating individual achievements reinforces the idea that every effort and success contributes to the child’s uniqueness. This recognition strengthens the connection between personal effort and the feeling of being special.

Fostering a Positive Identity

• Exploring Interests and Skills: Making a child feel special involves understanding and supporting their interests and skills. Providing opportunities to explore different areas strengthens the connection between the child and their developing identity.

• Developing Passions and Values: Encouraging the development of personal passions and values contributes to a positive identity. Children who feel supported in their core values develop a deep sense of what makes them unique.

Creating Meaningful Moments:

• Quality Time: Making a child feel special involves dedicating quality time. Establishing special moments, whether through shared activities or meaningful conversations, strengthens emotional bonds and communicates the child’s importance in the adults' lives.

• Celebrating Important Events: Acknowledging and celebrating important events in the child’s life, big or small, contributes to their sense of specialness. These events can include academic achievements, personal milestones, or highlights in their development.

Open and Empathetic Communication

• Encouraging Communication: Making a child feel special involves fostering open communication. Creating an environment where the child feels comfortable expressing their thoughts, emotions, and concerns strengthens emotional connection and builds trust.

• Empathy and Active Listening: Listening with empathy and active understanding is essential. Validating the child’s experiences and showing genuine interest in their thoughts and feelings contributes to their sense of being understood and valued.

Support in Challenges and Failures

• Constructive Approach to Challenges: Making a child feel special involves supporting them through challenges. Helping them face difficulties constructively reinforces the idea that their worth is not determined by failures but by their ability to learn and grow.

• Demystifying Failure: Demystifying failure is crucial for building resilience. Children who understand that failure is a natural part of the learning process develop a positive attitude toward challenges.

Developing Social Skills

• Teaching Social Skills: Making a child feel special involves teaching them social skills. Facilitating the development of skills like empathy, effective communication, and conflict resolution contributes to positive interpersonal relationships.

• Promoting Healthy Relationships: Building healthy relationships is integral to making a child feel special. Teaching the importance of mutual respect and collaboration sets the foundation for positive relationships in adulthood.

Support in Identity Exploration

• Unconditional Acceptance: Making a child feel special involves unconditional acceptance. Adults should show love and support regardless of the choices and paths the child explores in their journey toward identity.

• Support in Personal Decisions: Facilitating self-discovery involves supporting the child in making personal decisions. Encouraging autonomy and individual expression contributes to their sense of control over their own identity.

Safe and Stimulating Environment

• Emotional Security: Making a child feel special involves providing an emotionally safe environment. Emotional security is essential for the child to explore their identity and develop healthy self-esteem.

• Positive Stimulation: Offering a stimulating environment that encourages creativity and positive learning contributes to the feeling of specialness. Children thrive when they feel inspired and supported in their explorations.