Radio Commentary
When it comes to building a child’s
sense of self-worth, never underestimate the power of a smile.
Children develop a sense of their
own identities from the reactions they get from other people — especially their
parents.
A child whose parents smile when
she enters the room gets the message that she is valued and her parents are
happy she is who she is.
Parents who frown at a child, even
if they are not intentionally trying to be negative, send a message that they
see something wrong or displeasing.
We have held an end-of-year awards
ceremony that honors students for their academic achievements and their strong
commitment to community service.
It is very customary for students
to remark that through community service they had come to realize the simple
power of a smile.
This was true whether they were
helping children, the elderly, or those fighting illness.
So make smiling at your child a
habit. A smile tells your child you are happy to see him and spend time with
him. Even at the end of a tiring day, the effort it takes to smile will be
worth it.
For building a child’s self-esteem,
your smile can be worth more than any words.
