Building A Child’s Self-Confidence (NAPSA)—Oneof the greatest gifts a parent can give a child is the gift of self-confidence, because it can be a gift that keeps giving. Self-esteem is an indicator of good mental health. It is how we feel about ourselves. Parents can play important roles in helping their children feel better about themselves and developing greater confidence. Doing this is important, because children with good self-esteem learn how to act independently, assume responsibility and handle peer pressure appropriately. Words and actions have great impact on the confidence of children, and children, including adolescents, remember the positive statements that parents and caregivers say to them. Phrases such as “I like the way you...” or “You are improvingat...” or “I appreciate the wayyou...” should be used on a daily basis. Parents can also smile, nod, wink, pat on the back or hug a child to show attention and appreciation. Whatelse can parents do? * Be generous with praise. Parents must develop the habit of looking for situations in which children are doing good jobs, displaying talents, or demonstrating positive character traits. Remem- ber to praise children for jobs well done andfor effort. * Teach positive self-statements. It is important for parents to redirect children’s inaccurate or negative beliefs about themselves and to teach them how to think in positive ways. Avoid criticism that takes the form of ridicule or shame. Children can learn also about self esteem from other surprising sources, such as cartoons. The “Fat Albert” is back, making kids laugh while teaching them some of life’s important lessons. “Fat Albert” movie, which is based on the old Saturday morning cartoon series, is a good example. Now, Bill Cosby’s characters have made their way to movie theatres andare available on DVD. The program’s appeal was based equally on its sense of humor and fun andits pro-social messages and characters. To make the show, Cosby and the producers assembled a special Advisory Board to consult on the program. The distinguished panel, composed of linguists, psychologists, historians, teachers andscientists, and a clear goal: to create an entertaining program that would delight youngsters while telling pro-social, age-appropriatelife lessons. Thefilm “Fat Albert” debuts on DVD and is based on Cosby’s stand-up comedy routine about his childhood friends growing up in Philadelphia. It is filled with laughs, love and life lessons, not the least of which is the importance of self-esteem. For more information, visit www.fatalbertdvd.com.
