The way to do that, says behavioral therapist Debra Phillips, is to ask “the question”—”Tell me something you like about yourself”—every day.

If your child has a hard time answering “The Question,” start with:

• “Tell me something you liked about yourself today.”

• “Tell me something you think you did well today.”

• “Tell me something you enjoyed today.”

Phillips’ other tips for asking “The Question” include:

• Show your child that a small response is okay. (“I didn’t forget my backpack.”)

• Suggest that an improvement is okay. (“I tried hard to win.”)

• Give a reluctant child a multiple-choice version of the “The Question.” (“Did you feel good about...” “How about...?”)

• Weave “The Question” into your everyday routine. (“After school: “What did you do today that you are proud of?”)

• Praise your child—as a way of suggesting possible answers to “The Question.” (“I really liked the way you shared your feelings in that story.”)

• Reward your child for answering (or trying to answer) “The Question.”

Copyright © Parent Institute