A Fine Parent

A Life Skills Blog Exclusively For Parents

About Jean Merrill

Jean Merrill is a mother to 3 remarkable children and an aspiring writer in Baltimore, Maryland. She spends her time on community service, driving the mom “bus,” and teaching breastfeeding classes amongst other projects, but managing project “Merrill Family” is her favorite enterprise. She loves all things food: shopping for it, cooking it, reading cookbooks, and anything on Food Network. A student of the world, Jean loves to travel with her family, and is always looking forward to the next adventure. You can find out more about her at Merrill’s Enterprising Minds.

How to Foster a Positive Self-Image in Your Child (in a World of Social Media Pressure)

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(This article is part of the Strong Kids series. Get free article updates here.)

Positive Self-Image - Main PosterWhen you think of your sweet child fending off social media pressure, does your heart nervously flutter a little?

Does the thought of these negative influences leave you hoping (praying) they’ll solidly, confidently, know themselves and the RIGHT thing to do?

Can we give them the tools to see through negative influences with superman-like laser vision?

Peer pressure is reaching new levels of influence in this digital age, where bullying can happen behind the veiled, impersonal curtain of an electronic device.

By the time our children have their first Facebook account, we hope to have instilled in them enough of a sense of self that they can objectively evaluate any peer-to-peer situation. We hope that they already have a strong foundation in communication skills, and firm grasp of their personal values. We hope that they internally know the right things to do and are confident in the courage of their convictions.

This will give them the voice required to face interpersonal challenges and the ability to stand up for themselves, and those around them.

We can help our kids develop that strong sense of positive self-image. By starting early, and with a few language tricks, we can plant deep roots from which a strong, independent, confident, sense of self will grow. [Read more…]