We often teach our kids to be grateful for the people in their lives, what they have and the experiences that have made a difference to them.

Those conversations are important but let’s go beyond asking kids what they’re grateful for.

Let’s take it one step further and ask: “What do you appreciate about yourself?”

Maybe it’s their curiosity, their kindness, their sense of humour, their determination or the way they care about other people.

Our kids will have plenty of moments when they question themselves. They’ll make mistakes, feel disappointed and compare themselves to others. Knowing what they appreciate about themselves helps kids’ build self-esteem and reminds them that who they are isn’t defined by what happens in a challenging moment.

The next time you’re talking with your child about gratitude, ask one more question:

“What do you appreciate about yourself?”

This is what I know: Helping build kids’ self-esteem isn’t only about them noticing what they’re good at. They also need to know that appreciating themselves matters.

Until next time…