aising confident, happy humans would be much easier if they could just take it from us that they are wonderful and kind and smart and capable. But, if there is one parenting truism that proves itself time and time again, it is that children will never listen to what you say, but they will always watch what you do. And so, like all aspects of parenting, fostering a solid foundation of self-esteem for our children is a full-immersion job, requiring us to listen and model and be mindful of all the little things that shape our children’s perception of themselves. “I can’t stress this enough,” says Dr. Sue Varma, a psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. “Having a healthy sense of self-worth is paramount to a child’s mental health outcomes. Whether there is a family history of mood or anxiety disorders or not, having a healthy sense of self-esteem can
