Your Questions About Self-Esteem, Answered
How do you help your child feel confident in who they are — without creating pressure to be perfect or the best at everything?
In this Q&A episode, Dr. Dave Anderson answers thoughtful 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 Covered
- 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
Resources Mentioned
Find expert tips and tools for supporting kids’ self-esteem in our show notes at childmind.org/podcast
🎧 Subscribe to the Thriving Kids Podcast for weekly episodes on parenting, mental health, and child development.
💬 Got a question you’d like Dr. Anderson to answer in a future Q&A? Submit it at childmind.org/podcast
Creators and Guests
Host
Dave Anderson
Dave Anderson, PhD, is the Vice-President of Public Engagement and Education and a senior psychologist in the ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute. Dr. Anderson focuses on the expansion of our awareness-building and prevention programs while also leading initiatives that build the Child Mind Institute brand, foster strategic partnerships, and forge new relationships with policy makers and youth mental health leaders.
Producer
Andrew Dearling
Andrew Dearling is the Digital Director at the Child Mind Institute, where he leads strategy and execution across web, email, social media, and digital campaigns. He focuses on using digital tools to connect more families with mental health resources, expand the organization’s reach, and drive measurable impact. Andrew combines deep expertise in content, platforms, and performance marketing with a clear understanding of how to reach people where they are, and move them to take action.
Producer
Chad Garber
Chad Garber, a seasoned Creative Producer with over 15 years of experience, shapes branded video, digital, and experiential content for Fortune 100 companies, agencies, and in-house teams to Child Mind Institute. Known for building high-performing creative operations, he led pro-bono productions to multimillion-dollar campaigns for brands like Verizon, Microsoft, New Balance, Budweiser, and FedEx. His sharp storytelling, deep production expertise, and collaborative leadership move ideas from concept to screen with impact.
