Self Esteem & Teens: How To Build Confidence & Self-Esteem In Your Teen

Being a teen can be very stressful however with the added pressures of social media, now more than ever, teens are suffering from anxiety, depression, suicidality and eating disorders at an alarming rate.

Self-esteem directly affects your teen's mental well-being and can increase their risk of participating in risky behaviours. So what can you do to help your teen boost their self-esteem?

1. Words Matter
Regardless of how frustrated you become, never name-call or use negative words to describe your teen. Words have so much power so now is the time to be mindful of how you use them. Now is a great time to use more positive and affirming words.

2. Don't Compare
Never compare your teen to their peers, siblings or anyone else. Comparing is one of the leading causes for low self-esteem in teens, especially on social media.

3. Open Communication
When was the last time you had a conversation with your teen? Asked how their day was and got more than a one word answer? Asked how they are feeling or what they feel about certain topics or issues?

Always try to keep open communication with your teen by providing a judgement-free safe space for them to be honest about how they are feeling and/or what they are going through without lecturing. Sometimes, they just want a listening ear.

4. Make It Fun
A great way to get kids to do stuff is to make it fun and challenging. Find resources that will help boost their confidence in a fun and exciting way.

5. Give Them The Tools
Sometimes we don't have all the tools but we can point them in the right direction. Do they have a peer group at their school that they can participate in?

While some teens may thrive in an in-person peer group, some may perfer an online program or online community that will give them the confidence to open up about their challenges judgement-free, safely and anonymously.