4 Ways Your Child’s Teacher Can Damage His Self Esteem

Mark Wealth

Self esteem should be built from as early as possible, consequently, parents and teachers have major roles to play.

However, sometimes, teachers who should compliment parents’ efforts at reinforcing their child’s positive perception of themselves do exactly the opposite. Here are four ways your child’s teacher may be damaging your child’s self esteem and what to do…

1. Praising Always

Praising a child for every minor achievement may be counterproductive as they may start feeling entitled; expecting people to praise them for things that don’t matter, and when that praise is not forthcoming, they feel inadequate, cheated or despised.

2. Hoarding The Praise

Some teachers for some reason NEVER acknowledge when their students exhibit exceptional skills or conduct in a situation. Instead of acknowledging and possibly praising the child, they just act like nothing happened. Are they hoarding the praise, ignorant, jealous or just being mean?

Like praising a child over every little feat, not acknowledging any of their significant achievements may make them feel their best is never enough and even want to give up.

READ ALSO: Signs That Your Child Has A Low Self Esteem

3. Overt Caregiver

Some teachers think that helping the child in EVERY challenge is the best way to help them succeed. While success is the ultimate goal, spoon-feeding a child to attain this should never be an option. The child instead should be guided. They must painstakingly go through the learning process, make mistakes and ask questions to enable them get things right.

4. Mean Teacher

Like some parents, some teachers think that being hard on a child is the way to go. They emphasize the student’s failures or mistakes, and even go as far as asking other kids to shame them. This will discourage the child from active participation in class because they doubt themselves and fear they can never get it right.

So, how can you combat these as a parent? Study your child closely and make it a routine to ask them what happened at school. Also, investigate any complains about their teachers. In addition, maintain a cordial relationship with their teachers as well as the school management. Ensuring your child has a healthy self esteem is worth these efforts and much more.