Self Esteem in Teen

Low self-esteem is unfortunately very common among teenagers, especially among teenage girls. Learn how to boost a teen's self-esteem with expert tips in this parenting video.

About this Author

Dr. Ferrara has worked with children and adult survivors of abuse for over twenty years in CT, NY and FL. She is currently in private practice in Tampa, FL and affiliated with the University of South Florida as adjunct associate professor.

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Your teenager may go through times where their self-esteem goes up and down; especially if they're being teased by their peers. You may want to find ways of raising your teen's self-esteem to a higher level to help them cope with their issues. Here are some ways you can do just that:

Take the Time To Listen- You may not always be able to stop what you're doing when your teen wants to talk. Don't brush them away and say that you don't have time. This shows them you don't care even when you actually do. Tell them that you need a minute or two to finish up what you're doing and then you will sit down and talk with them.

Listen- Your teen needs to know that you're actually listening to what they're saying. Let them tell you what's on their mind. Ask questions related to what they're saying. For example, if they're telling you about someone at school, you can ask if that person is in their class or not. This shows them that what they have to say is valuable; no matter what it is. On the same token, don't interrupt them by saying what they're talking about is wrong. Let them talk through their issue first and then explain what might have been wrong about it.

More Praise- Offer more praise for the good things they do and less focus on the things they do wrong. You still want to show them what their mistakes are, but don't dwell solely on that. Tell them what they could have done right and praise them for anything they may have done correctly in that situation. This helps them see that they aren't as bad as they might think they are.

Punish Behaviors and Not The Teen- There will be times where you will have to dole out some form of punishment for your teen. It's important that you punish the behavior, but never tell your teen how stupid they are for doing it or that they can't do anything right. You would only be adding to their self-esteem problem. They need to know the behavior was unacceptable, but talk to them about how they could have handled it instead, so they don't come out of it feeling like they're not worth anything.

Share some of their interests- You don't need to like everything they do. Find some things that they like and learn about them. For example, if your teen likes to play golf; you can offer to take them sometime and play along with. They can even teach you how to play, so they can feel like they're really good at something.

Be Understanding- Don't laugh or brush off your teen's fears or insecurities. Always be understanding of that fear and help them work through whatever it is. Confess to some fears you might have had when you were their age. This shows them that they're not alone and they're not dumb for what they're feeling.

Encourage- You will want to encourage your teen to do whatever it is they want to do. If their career choice is to be an engineer, then encourage them to find out what they need to learn to become one and encourage them to do whatever they need to accomplish that goal. If they choose to become a professional sports player and not go to college; you should still encourage them to continue playing that sport, but they could do it while in college. Let them know that they can get a feel for how it could work if they get on a professional team later on.

These things give them the confidence they need to try new things and to look forward to the future. To get super-sized self-esteem for your teen, you can start offering it yourself. This will help them when they have issues outside of the home that could cause a poor self-confidence.

If you're looking for great information on ways to fully understand your teen, you can get it right now...any time of the day, any day of the week. Real Life Guidance to Understanding Your Teen is available for easy and instant download to your computer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aurelia_Williams

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Happy families have strong family bonds. Parents, as the leaders of the family unit, have to be responsible for strengthening and protecting these bonds. It doesn't happen naturally in our hectic day-to-day lives. You can create this firm foundation by committing to these ten essential practices that will strengthen your family’s relationships.

1. Schedule in family time. When you have teens, you will need to take a look at everyone’s schedule. We try to get together with our weekly schedules every Sunday night here in the Witmer household. But when I schedule something big for all of us to do, like a day trip, I do it one month in advance and put it on the calendar that hangs on the refrigerator.

2. Eat meals together as much as possible. Studies have shown that eating meals together helps with reinforce communication. If you unable to get together as a family for dinner because of busy schedules, try breakfast.

3. Do family responsibilities together. Make cleaning your home a responsibility of the whole family. Create a list of chores and have everyone sign up. Set a weekly time to either have the chores completed or do the chores. This gives your teen some flexibility for his/her own schedule.

4. Create a family mission statement. Place it in a predominant place in your home. Read it and talk about it often. Learn how to create a family mission statement.

5. Have family meetings. These can be scheduled events or you can make them impromptu, where any member of the family can call a meeting if they feel the need. Start each of these meetings by reading your family mission statement.

6. Encourage support for each other. Share when something goes well at work. Ask your teen how his/her test went. Commiserate when your teen’s team loses a game. Celebrate good grades and reward good behavior by doing something special together.

7. Take time out for yourself. Parenting is a huge responsibility that you are required to fulfill every day. Even the Department of Labor requires companies to give two 10-minute breaks during a work day. Shouldn’t you do the same? The reality is that you will be a better parent when you take some time for just you.

8. Volunteer together. Giving your time to make someone else’s life better is always a powerful learning experience. Learning important life lessons together will strengthen the relationship you have with your children. (See: How to Promote a Positive Volunteer Experience)

9. Become involved in your teen’s interests. You don’t have to be the coach, but you can help out with a fundraiser or by being in charge of snacks for the bus on away game night. Ask where you can help, it will show your teen you care about what he/she is interested in.

10. Join something with other families. Whether this is within your community or your church, being with other families will strengthen your own family bonds.


Author: Denise Witmer, About.com

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Doing yoga for teens would be a great way to help them in dealing with anxiety and boosting self-esteem. The yoga poses can be effective in relaxation and enhance their physical abilities. Recently, yoga has been introduced to young children and teenagers as a form of therapy and physical exercise. There are a number of yoga websites offering articles, techniques, classes, and testimonials on the benefits of the children that participate.

The teenage years

One of the most important and difficult times in a child's life is the teenage years. In school, it is the period of wanting to "fit in" accompanied with peer pressure. They will usually have lots of homework and if they are into extracurricular activities such as sports, band, or drama, a significant amount of time is required for that. For some, this can be too much of a challenge. Life at home may also have its challenges with parents and siblings.

The question to be asked is, "what activity/activities are available to help teens through difficult situations they may encounter?" For the most part, teens have support from friends, school activities and family. But where do they turn when the support is not readily available to them when they need it most?

Yoga benefits

Doing a low impact style of yoga, such as Iyengar, would be the best way for kids to experience calmness and empowerment. Each pose is performed gently and consciously with much attention given to breathing, expansion, and balance. In this process, it will enable the teen to focus on self that will help release tension, frustration or even anger and transform those energies into a more relaxed state.

The poses are excellent for boosting self-esteem in that it challenges the individual's ability to stay in balance, both in mind and body. Significant results may be attained through each session. Yoga exercises are not easy to do as some individuals may realize but with continued commitment, teens will be taking great strides towards self-fulfillment. With that level of confidence, teens will be able to handle trying situations differently and effectively.

Place of comfort

Yoga is not a cure-all by any means but it is a safe and alternative way for teenagers to find a place of comfort. Finding that place is far more intriguing and beneficial than doing drugs or being caught in unfavorable situations. Yoga is not for everyone but for those who embrace its importance, it will improve their quality of life in the days and years to come.

Where to find yoga classes

Parents, you might be able to find classes in your neighborhood or in your local newspaper. Keep in mind that not all yoga studios will have programs specific to teens. Probably the best avenue to do a search would be online. The age of the world wide web has made accessing information on any topic quick and easy.

From the web you will be able to narrow your search specific to your needs without even leaving your home. Though, if a studio were found, it would be wise to visit and observe the practice. Take the time to get as much information that you will need from the class instructor to insure it will be a match for your child.

About the author:

Thaddeus W Johnson is a writer who enjoys providing online shoppers with valuable information for purchasing and the benefits of shopping online. Discover great savings on products such as yoga t-shirts, affordable clothing and much more.

C 2008 Thaddeus W Johnson

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thaddeus_Johnson

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