How can I help my infant establish a healthy self-esteem?
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RealAge answered:The development of a healthy sense of self is a complex process that begins when children are infants and continues late into adolescence and early adulthood (and even beyond). Every child is unique in exactly how this process is achieved, but you can look for general milestones in each age group. Parents can greatly influence this process, so I encourage you to set the foundation for your kid’s healthy self-esteem by being a consistent, nurturing, and responsive parent throughout your child’s upbringing... even when they say they don’t need you anymore!
In the first year of life, infants begin to realize they are individuals, and they start to distinguish themselves from their parents and caregivers. They realize they have a certain amount of control over their surroundings and can recognize the rule of cause and effect. A baby who drops a toy from the highchair learns that someone will pick it up again and again. This can become your baby’s favorite new game!
The best way to establish a healthy sense of self in infants is by being a warm, responsive parent. By interacting with your baby in a nurturing, supportive way, you’re setting the groundwork for a positive self-image later in life. Infants who lack a secure bond with their caregivers may be more prone to negative self-image in childhood and, perhaps, later in adolescence. They may even be predisposed to depression.
From Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children by Jennifer Trachtenberg.
Find out more about this book: Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children
The development of a healthy sense of self is a complex process that begins when children are infants and continues late into adolescence and early adulthood (and even beyond). Every child is unique in exactly how this process is achieved, but you... More
