Self-esteem. It's probably the most vital ingredient in raising a happy, confident kid. Healthy self-esteem is the foundation for achieving success in life and avoiding problems such as depression and drug use. That's why it's so important to take a close look at your child's personality and your own parenting style to figure out how your child is feeling about himself and his place in the world. Answer the following questions to see how well your child is doing in the self-esteem department.

  1. When your child approaches a new activity, such as learning to ride a bike or her first art lesson, she:
    • Is excited to learn something new but is a little surprised at how much effort it's going to take to get good at it
    • Knows it will take a long time to get it right but is determined to learn and enjoys each sign of progress along the way
    • Thinks it will be a snap and boasts that she'll be able to do it, then gets frustrated when she doesn't master the activity the first time out
  1. When your child makes a mistake, such as getting a test question wrong or missing a chance to score in a soccer game, he:
    • Gets frustrated immediately, often blaming others or saying something disparaging about himself, such as "I'm stupid" or "I'm uncoordinated"
    • Tries again but is clearly discouraged
    • Asks for help, then uses that information to do better next time

    page 1 of 6