ABSTRACT
Throughout history, people have tried to make grown-ups and children feel bad and guilty for having certain feelings. Some children use food and sweeties because they are not getting enough cuddles and comfort from kind grown-ups. A child with low self-worth cannot just learn to love himself more. Self-esteem isn't something you can get from yourself. Self-esteem comes from interactions with other people. Children who feel worthless need help from someone who will really listen to what it feels like to be them, and to heighten their self-awareness about how they came to feel like this, and how their critical self-talk is perpetuating their bad feelings. If a child is socialised with choices and empathy, not commands, there is no likelihood of damaging his self-worth and moving him into shame. Unlike an adult, a young child is still forming a sense of self and self-worth.
