Disclosure: The following is a sponsored post. Although I was compensated by Charlotte Parent to attend and promote the luncheon Mom Matters – Building Your Child’s Character and Self-Esteem with a payment, product, or something else of value in exchange for writing this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I only recommend products and events that I believe in.
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Charlotte Parent Mom Matters luncheon to hear Katie Overcash and Jen Band speak on Building Your Child’s Confidence and Self-Esteem. As a mom with five daughters I was very much interested in these topics and I was not disappointed.
Katie Overcash, LCSW, is recognized in the community for years of experience in facilitating self-esteem groups and camps for adolescents and working with adolescents who engage in self-injurious behavior.
Katie’s session concentrated on how to communicate with your children, something most parents agree can be difficult.
Communication with your child can be difficult at times–especially as they age and desire separation from the family. Parents question or offer assistance with the best of intentions, but it’s not always viewed that way! Open-ended statements and questions offer a non-confrontational way for children to open up and communicate when they are ready.-Katie Overcash, LCSW
Katie recommends instead of asking your child “How was your day?’ try asking a more specific question like “What was the hardest part of your day?” and while giving advice instead of saying “When I was your age…” try “I went through something similar when I was younger. Let me know if you would like to hear about it.” This gives your child an option, instead of forcing your opinion and views on your child. Katie stressed that it is important to foster your child’s ability to think for themselves, problem solve, ask for when when they need it, and communicate to others.
How can I foster healthy self-esteem development in my child?
Preschool
School Age
Adolescence
How do I raise a child of strong character?
Jen Band is the Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit Playing for Others, which supports teens as they become the next generation of innovative leaders, philanthropists, and compassionate human beings. Jen’s zest for life and making an impact in the world was inspired by her time working at caps for children with chronic and terminal illnesses. Her life is a musical, her favorite way to energize is a dance party, and she deeply believes in the power of purpose, passion, and play.
Jen’s talk centered on IMPACT and building character. To kick off her discussion, Jen had high school junior Lucy Murrey recite her poem Impact.
The number one thing all people crave, regardless of age, is love and belonging. We want to feel connected–to realize that we matter and our lives matter. It’s what I hear from teens over and over again, “I don’t know if I matter… if my life really matters.” When we focus on our own IMPACT, we connect to a purpose and passion that drives us, gives us direction, and builds strong character that ultimately IMPACTs the world. – Jen Band
Building character in our kids starts with building connection:
- Connection to self
- Connection to others
- Connections to community
All those things combined, connection to self, others and community, give us a connection to a greater purpose. And it teaches us that there is something larger than “me”, whatever that thing is. There is a drive, a sense of worth, of value. The connection between your life and the lives you can change.
Happiness is the greatest indicator of success. – Jen Band
At Playing for Others the teens ask two critical questions: “Who am I?” and “How will I give of that?”
The first question, Who am I? is the number one question teens ask themselves… “Am I who my parents tell me to be? Am I who my friends think I should be? Am I striving to be what I see on social media and the news?” And the simple answer is you are whoever you say you are.
In hearing about self-esteem and character development from Katie and Jen, Charlotte Parent has a great opportunity for families to continue the learning and get active together. Called the Fit Family Challenge, it is a free, 8-week program May 1-June 26 to encourage parents and kids to get fit and win prizes along the way! Last year my family and I were participants and we won two Misfits and a $100 Target gift card!
For more information, see www.myfitfamilychallenge.com.
Disclosure: The following is a sponsored post. Although I was compensated by Charlotte Parent to attend and promote the luncheon Mom Matters – Building Your Child’s Character and Self-Esteem with a payment, product, or something else of value in exchange for writing this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I only recommend products and events that I believe in.
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