8 Steps to Encouraging Your Child’s Individuality | Help Kids Find Their Identity

Helping your kids feel confident in their individuality and find their own personal self identity is so powerful in boosting their self-esteem.

Each day our kids grow they become more of who they will be as adults. You can start to see their little personalities and interests shine through at a very young age.

Our kids will find things that they like and develop different quirks in their personalities that are unique to them.

Sometimes these interests will be completely different from their parents. They may even have a personality completely different than what you though it would be and that’s definitely normal and okay.

Even I had the misconception that raising boys would be all trucks and bugs. After having two boys I learned that I was completely wrong. 

How do you promote individuality and identity?

It’s up to us as parents to encourage our child to grow into the people they are becoming.

Encouraging your child’s individuality is actually really easy. Here are 8 easy steps to get on the right track.

1. Be Their Biggest Fans

   As your child develops interests encourage them by showing interest in the things they love. You may not like Pokemon, chess, or comic books. But, if your children do then they want you to be apart of it.

   It’s the same as supporting a spouse that’s into sports by going to games even if you don’t dig it yourself.
   
   But, you just might be surprised and end up loving what they love too.
   
   Our son loves to play chess and we’ve tried to encourage that by getting him a chess set to play at home and playing games with him.

2. Get Involved

   Their are so many ways you can be a more present parent in your child’s life.

   It’s all about showing support in your child’s interests. So, if they play in band attend the concerts, if they play soccer go to the games, if they are struggling in school volunteer in the classroom or try out homeschooling.
   

   The goal here is showing your kids that you are there for them, you have their backs and support them as an individual.

3. Open Communication

   Talk to your child from a young age about anything and everything. Ask them questions, have family meetings, talk to them about their interests.

   Healthy family communication helps your child express their individuality because they know they can talk to you about what’s really on their mind.
   
4. Show Enthusiasm

   Be your child’s biggest cheerleader. Get excited when they are excited be proud when they are proud of something.

   Your kids want to know that you truly care about their achievements. This helps them feel more confident about them.

5. Support Them Through Changes

   Your kids will grow and they’ll change.

   One day they will love Pokemon and the next day they will move on to Minecraft or they will move from ballet to soccer.
   
   Sometimes they move on and come back to things they love.
   
   Your kids might want to try a different style of clothes, go to the store in mismatched clothes, or listen to a new music.
   
   They can also go through periods of struggling with mental health and stress. Especially during the tween period.
   
   Show support through the changes in your child’s life. Be available to talk about your child’s stress or anything they are going through and to offer resources if needed.
   
6. Expose Them to a Variety of Things

   It’s never okay to push your child into wanting to be something you want them to be. Especially if they don’t want it.

   But, it is okay to expose them to different areas of interest to see what they like. It might just be something you love too.

   Exposing your kids to a variety of things can actually help them figure out what they like and don’t like.

   Be ready to move on from things that your child is struggling with or doesn’t have interest in. I can’t tell you how many clubs or classes we have tried for a few weeks and quit. Others stick when our kids truely love them.
   

   We like to take our kids to a variety of different restaurants, community events, and places. Also, exposing them to different classes and extracurricular’s they want to try out. Through encouraging them to try and experience new things we find out so much about them as individuals.

7. Encourage Their Dreams

   We are so lucky to live in a country where almost anything is possible. It’s so important to encourage your child’s dreams and goals.

   Never put down your child’s dreams, because who knows what they could be capable of them with the support of believing parents.
   

   Do they want to be a doctor, fire fighter, or You Tuber? Encourage them to pursuit what they love. Help them find out what they need to do to achieve those dreams and be their for them every step of the way.

   One of our kids dreams of being a Disney Imagineer. So, we did some research to find out what he needs to study in college to do that. We’ve also enrolled him in some engineering classes that will give him some beginning experience before he starts studying it in college.
   

   Their is no greater motivation to accomplishing individual goals than having someone who believes in you.

8. Make Goals with Them
   
   Help your kids make goals that encourage their individuality and self esteem.
   
   Whether it’s working towards a dream they have or giving themselves daily positive affirmation, making smart goals can help your child develop their identity even more.

Tell me: How do you encourage your child’s individuality? What makes your child a unique individual? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!