PARENTAL ADVICE
Help:
How Do You Teach Your Child
With Autism Self-Esteem?
By Rob BERNSTEIN
Dear Rob,
How do I teach my kid to accept who he is with autism and help him reach his fullest
potential to live a fulfilling life?
—Raja
➢
Rob's advice on guiding self-esteem for children
H
Dear Raja,
aving a healthy self-esteem is perhaps the
single most important aspect of a person,
and I believe it can be taught. In fact, my
favorite presentation is Teaching Your Child
Self-Esteem. Here’s one suggestion: Empha-
size the child’s process, rather than the final
product. For example, if your child brings
62 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 71
home a picture he made in school, don’t simply say
“good job” without elaborating. You may add, for ex-
ample, “I really like the way you did the sun; those
swirling rays must have taken a while to make.” The
child reflects on what he actually did, rather than on
feeling that he is glad to please his father. We want
our kids to feel inner satisfaction, rather than work-