Self-esteem is one of those parenting topics that has become slightly fuzzy through overuse. We all want our children to feel good about themselves, but the path from a confident, capable child to an entitled one is not always obvious. The good news is that the research on this is clearer than most of the noise suggests. The core idea Healthy self-esteem is not a feeling that you are wonderful. It is the quiet, evidence-based confidence that you can handle what life throws at you. Children build that confidence by being given the chance to try, to fail and to recover. Praise What They Did, Not Who They Are The…

Few parenting moments feel as tender as watching a child try to make a friend. Whether it is a new school, a club, a holiday playground or a birthday party, the same small social leap is involved each time. Some children take it in their stride, others find every approach exhausting, and most fall somewhere in between. Here is what helps. Lead With Confidence, Not Skill Children pick up confidence from the adults around them long before they learn the techniques of conversation. If you treat new social situations as exciting and manageable, your child will internalise that. If you fret openly about whether they will fit in, they will…