How do you help your child feel confident in who they are without putting pressure on them to be perfect or the best at everything?

In this Q&A edition of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers questions from listeners about how to support self-esteem in kids and teens. Building healthy self-worth isn’t just about praise — it’s about helping young people feel capable, valued, and grounded even when life is hard or they fall short. Drawing from clinical insight and everyday parenting strategies, Dr. Anderson tackles common concerns around negative self-talk, comparison, perfectionism, and how to model healthy self-esteem as an adult.

Topics include:

• How to build kids’ confidence without making them feel entitled
• What to do when your child says “I’m stupid” or “I hate myself”
• Helping kids avoid harmful social media comparisons
• Encouraging risk-taking when kids are afraid to fail
• Supporting kids when they hear something unkind from a peer
• Knowing the difference between low self-esteem and a rough patch
• What to do when a child’s self-esteem depends on one area (like sports)
• Moving beyond achievement as a source of pride
• How to support perfectionists without reinforcing pressure
• Why how you talk about yourself matters — and how to model healthy self-worth