Self-esteem is feeling good about yourself and what you can do. Kids with good self-esteem recognize good qualities about themselves and believe in their abilities. They feel liked and know how to handle and move past a mistake when it comes along.
On the other hand, a kid with low self-esteem may not feel like they fit in. They might believe other kids dislike them or they’re not as good. When they fail, they dwell on what went wrong instead of jumping to try again. They self-criticize and are extra tough on themselves.
Kids with high self-esteem might see benefits like:
- Stronger values
- A sense of purpose
- Increased resiliency
- Better stress management
A child’s self-esteem, which is established by age five, develops as he grows, makes new friends and is praised for good behavior. Taking family photos is one way to nurture your child’s self-esteem.
How Can Family Pictures Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem?
For many families, photos are a great way to capture and display memories. You may already have pictures plastered on your walls for all to see. According to one 2009 UK survey, 78% of people have between one and 15 photos of family in their home. Ten years later, when tech has made it easier to snap and share photos, it’s easy to assume the number has gone up.
It was also discovered kids who don’t see family photos when growing up are less likely to hang pictures of their own children. Experts believe family photos — whether displayed or not — could have a profound effect on your child’s self-esteem.
A Place to Belong
A child with high self-esteem is one who knows where he belongs. Family photos, seen every day, are a visual representation of where a child belongs.
Professor Geoff Beattie, Dean of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester, says, “For children in particular, looking at photographs is part of the socializing process, learning who you are and where you fit into the family. By displaying photographs of our children at different stages of their lives, we are making a very public statement that we are proud of them.”
A photo is a public display of pride in your child, one they will recognize. Looking at family photographs can remind them they have links to others who understand and accept them as they are.
A Memory to Cherish
Happy photos remind us – even kids – of the good times, giving us the motivation to carry on through the bad. Children can look at pictures, remember fond times and forget about the fear and self-doubt that plagues self-esteem.
According to research, 58 percent of people with a favorite photo said it was taken with family or another loved one. Photos capture the essence of a family, something children can look back on and remember fondly. Even today, when scheduling quality family time can be difficult, a photo can help your child remember the positive emotions he felt when it was taken.
Take photos of your children and hop in the frame so your kids can see how mom and dad looked. And don’t forget to include updates so your kids can see how they — and you — have changed over the years.
When kids see their progress, they will feel a sense of satisfaction with what they’ve been able to accomplish, boosting their self-esteem.
A Piece of History
People have long kept track of lineage and where they come from. But in recent years, it’s become a trend to use genealogy to learn more.
If you go back far enough, just a few thousands of years, you could theoretically trace your heritage back to Earth’s common ancestor, who is related to all present-day people. But most people want to learn about their grandparents, great grandparents and beyond. It could be an important step in figuring out who you are.
Photos of you and your children are a physical representation of your family history, one that stretches back for millenniums. These photos can even be used to look for similarities between other found relatives, like a comparable nose structure or the same color eyes.
Taking family photos can offer a lot of long-term benefits to your children and their self-esteem. Display photos early, as experts say children already have a sense of self-esteem by the age of five. Kids will then look at these photos and know where they belong. Not only is a picture a symbol of pride in your child, but it’s a lasting memory that can be cherished and held dear.
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