Every parent wants their teen to succeed and thrive in school. You may often find yourself trying to boost their self-worth by complimenting them or noticing what they do well. This will not necessarily feel like “enough” for your teen, who is likely dealing with a lot of pressure from peers, teachers, and parents.
As their parent, you want to do everything you can to support them in their academic life. Boosting your teen’s self-esteem at school will help them succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
When it comes to helping your teen succeed, start with these tips:
Recognize what your teen is good at
One of the best things you can do for your teen is to recognize their talents and strengths. No matter what they are doing, they are likely good at something. When you take the time to appreciate what they are good at, you help them feel more confident and capable.
Some ways you can recognize your teen’s strengths include:
- Making a list of things they are good at
- Complimenting them on specific strengths
- Helping them cultivate and develop their strengths
- Encouraging them when they face challenges
When your teen knows what they are good at, it gives them a sense of confidence and purpose. This can help them deal with the challenges and stress of school better.
Let them take charge of their appearance
Teens often want to feel more in control of their lives. You can help them feel this way by letting them take charge of their appearance. This includes what they wear, how they style their hair, and what kind of makeup they wear.
Of course, you don’t want them to go overboard with this and make bad choices, but giving your teen a little control over their appearance can help them feel more confident. For example, you can suggest braces or innovative dental implants, so they can improve their smile, offer selections of clothing, or help them pick out an outfit for a special occasion.
When your teen feels like they are in charge of their appearance, it helps them feel more confident and happy. This can carry over into other areas of their life, including school.
Provide genuine praise and encouragement
One of the best things you can do for your teen is to provide genuine praise and encouragement. This will help them feel good about themselves and be motivated to do better.
Some ways you can provide praise and encouragement include:
- Complimenting them on specific accomplishments
- Telling them how proud you are of them
- Giving them words of encouragement when they are struggling
- Noticing and praising the effort they put into their work
When your teen knows that you truly appreciate them, it will help them feel more confident and supported. This can motivate them to do better in school and overcome any challenges.
Offer to help with homework or study sessions
Offering to help with homework is a great way to support your teen in their academic life. When you take the time to sit down and help them with their work, it shows that you care and want them to succeed.
Some ways you can help your teen with homework include:
- Looking over their work together
- Helping them understand the concepts they are learning
- Offering practice problems and drills
- Going over test questions and studying for exams
When you help your teen with their homework, it allows them to learn and understand the material better. It can also help reduce stress and anxiety.
Your support will not only help them do better in school, but it will also make them feel loved and appreciated.
Understand their struggles and be supportive of the choices they make (even if you disagree with them)
One of the most important things you can do for your teen is to support them and listen to them when they struggle. It’s easy to get frustrated or judge their choices, but this will only distance you from them.
The more you understand their struggles and what they are going through, the better prepared you will be to provide help and guidance. For example, if your teen gets a bad grade on a test, don’t yell at them or make them feel like it’s their fault. Instead, ask what happened and try to understand better why they got that grade. This will not only help the both of you process the situation, but it may also give you some ideas on how to help them do better next time.
Understand that the choices your teen makes are not always going to make you happy or agree with them, but it’s important to be supportive of them. It’s easy to judge their decisions and withdraw in anger, but this will only make your teen feel more alone.
When they know you are there for them in their time of need, it gives them the courage to overcome any challenges they may face. For example, if your teen makes a bad decision and gets into trouble with you because of it, don’t get angry or withdraw from them. Instead, listen to what happened and understand why they made that choice. This will allow both of you to process what happened and come up with ways to do better next time.
Teenagers are still developing, which means they are more susceptible to mental health problems and other issues. Help your teen become happier, more confident, and do better in school by boosting their self-esteem with these great tips.
Whether you’re looking for ways to compliment them or offer help when they need it the most, there is a method that will work for you based on what stage of life your teenager is in. When you support your child through all stages of development, both emotionally and academically, they have an increased chance at being happy and successful as adults, too.
