To better understand
A person’s self-esteem depends on how they see themselves, on their opinion of themselves. It’s the value they place on themselves, but above all, it’s their ability to recognize their strengths and weaknesses.
Self-esteem develops over the course of different life experiences. And people with high self-esteem are better able to cope with stressful situations because they have confidence in themselves and in their ability to overcome challenges and ask for help when needed.
Having a realistic and positive self-image, while still having limits and boundaries, contributes to good mental health. Adolescence is a time when teenagers are forging their identity—the foundation for the adult they will become. So, it’s an important time for building and reinforcing self-esteem. Without a solid foundation, your teen’s self-esteem will waver with each and every event and encounter. As a parent, you have an important role to play!
Portrait of teens in Québec
Students with a high level of parental support are proportionately more likely to have self-esteem than those with low or moderate parental support (21% with high self-esteem vs. 13% with lower self-esteem).
To better support
Tips and tricks
- You are your teen’s most important role model!
- Make sure your behaviours are consistent with the messages you’re sending; in other words, practice what you preach.
- Show them how you overcome your own challenges to help them develop tools they can use later in life.
- Your teen needs to learn how to get along in a group and in society. Your family is the best place to teach them how to interact and cooperate with others.
In short
- Not only does high self-esteem provide a solid foundation for positive mental health, it also prevents many behavioural and learning problems.
- It’s through relationships with their parents, friends, teachers, and other significant adults that teens come to realize their own worth and develop their self-esteem.
- To develop high self-esteem, a teenager needs to experience regular wins but also make mistakes on a regular basis. They also need to feel like they’re allowed to mess up and view their missteps as learning opportunities.
- You’re the best person to help your teen develop, maintain and improve their self-esteem. Believe in them and help them get to know themselves so they can learn to appreciate themselves. You can do this by praising their strengths, while also helping them to recognize their faults and keep their ego in check!
Practical resources and tools
1. To support you:
Are you dealing with a situation that worries you? Ask for help:
2. For more information:
- Fondation Jeunes en Tête – family toolkit
- ADAP-T (French only)
- DUCLOS, LAPORTE, et ROSS (2002) L’estime de soi des adolescents, Éditions de l’Hôpital Sainte-Justine, La collection de l’Hôpital Sainte- Justine pour les parents, 96 pages (French only)
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