Celebrate Your Unique Child

Take a moment to think about how your child is truly unique: their personality, temperament, behaviors, strengths, challenges, physical appearance and much more. Each child is a wonderful mix that’s all their own. Here’s some inspiration as you appreciate and celebrate your one-of-a-kind child.

Honor their individuality. It’s normal for kids to feel they must conform to fit in with their peers. Help your child understand that their unique qualities are their strengths — point them out! Find video clips of their favorite celebrities talking about how insecure or ‘weird’ they were as kids. Talk with your child about people you both admire, and the qualities that make them unusual or special.

Support their interests. Kids develop specific interests at a surprisingly young age. Whatever lights them up, go with it! Ask them to teach you their favorite game, visit a dinosaur museum, share in the music they love, take a train ride, learn the starting lineup of their favorite team, and attend their games, concerts and other events. Help them explore their passions through lessons — in music, dance, sports, language or handcrafts.

Encourage and reward curiosity. Talk with your child in a way that opens them up and fuels their curiosity. Great conversations start with openers such as “What do you think about…” and “What would you do if…” and “I wonder why…”. Family meals and car trips are ideal for these explorations. Encourage them to ask their own questions and form their own opinions.

Focus on their efforts. Especially for kids, the effort is more important than the result. For kids to be willing to try new things, they must be confident enough to take risks and embrace their failures. Real progress often involves a steep learning curve and plenty of mistakes. Help them get comfortable with their discomfort.

Avoid comparisons. Resist comparing a child to their siblings or friends. Some kids are love-to-stay-home bookworms and others are always-on-the-go extroverts. Also respect that your child is growing and changing; don’t compare them to their younger self. Avoid comments like “You used to be…”. or “I wish you were still…”.

Model self-love. Your child is watching you more than you realize, and you’re their biggest influencer. Treat yourself well, both physically and emotionally.

Work toward a healthy, balanced life. Pursue your interests. Speak kindly about yourself and others. Let your child see you as the genuine person you are. Your child will face challenges all through their life. Embracing their own uniqueness is key to their self-esteem — and it will help them stay strong, optimistic and resilient.

Learn more about supporting your child or teen’s mental wellness.