Does Your Child’s Self-Esteem “Measure Up”?

Helping kids build high self-esteem is an important part of their education

I’m the proud dad of two amazing daughters. They’re both in their twenties now, but when they were younger, they trained at Canada’s Best Karate and earned their black belts. While life has taken them in different directions, the lessons they learned on the dojo floor have never left them—especially the gift of strong self-esteem.

Even now, they’ll call me or stop by and share something they’ve accomplished at work or in their personal lives. Not in a braggy way—just genuinely proud of what they’ve done. That quiet confidence? It’s priceless.

The tough part for kids today is that so much of this “sharing” happens online. Social media has become the go-to place for kids to post about goals or achievements. But here’s the problem: they’re not just sharing with family and friends. They’re often searching for approval. And that can backfire in a big way. A sarcastic comment. A handful of “likes” when they were hoping for more. Or worse, silence. It can crush their confidence and leave them feeling like they’re not enough.

One of the things I admire most about my daughters is that they also talk openly about their “losses.” When something doesn’t go their way, they can admit they’re disappointed, learn from it, and move forward stronger. That ability to handle both the ups and the downs? That’s what real confidence looks like.

Here’s the thing: self-esteem isn’t about measuring up to anyone else. It’s about how our kids see themselves—their own sense of worth and place in the world. And during these early years, helping them build high self-esteem might just be one of the most important gifts we can give them.

Scott Bullard began his martial arts education while studying to become a chemical engineer. A career change lead to realizing his dream of opening his own karate school. After 35 years of teaching in Vaughan, Scott has helped thousands of kids and adults enjoy the benefits of training in the martial arts. He is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Karate and Shihan/Master Instructor at Canada's Best Karate.