ABSTRACT
Children and adults have strengths and weaknesses. They vary in their abilities to do different things. However, it is well-known that to be happy and successful, self-esteem, self-confidence and optimism are very important. Although parents cannot control what happens to children, they do have a critically important role to play in how children feel and think about themselves. The feelings and thoughts that the child develops about him or herself in the first relationships with parents often strongly influence their approach to relationships with friends and other adults. An optimistic style of thinking gives a child the ability to bounce back after setbacks. Self-esteem, self-confidence and optimism are closely related to one another, but are subtly different. High self-confidence comes from knowing that professionals can achieve the things that they want to achieve. It grows out of the experience of trying new things and being successful.
