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 10 Common Parenting Mistakes That Can Hurt a Child’s Self-Esteem

(And What to Say Instead)

 Simple, everyday language shifts to help children ages 3–8 feel confident, secure, and deeply loved, from a pediatrician and mom who understands how powerful words can be.

 

Give your child words that build them up for life.

 

Created by Dr. Gretchen Petterway, MD, FAAP

Board-Certified Pediatrician • Mom • Author of I AM COOL

I’ve spent years caring for children, and I’ve learned that even the most loving parents can wonder if they’re saying the right things.
I’ve had moments as a mom where I wished I could take certain words back, too.

This guide, shaped by my medical experience and my own journey as a mom, is designed to help you make small, gentle shifts in your words so your child grows up knowing they are valued, loved, and enough.

Most parents don’t realize this, but confidence isn’t built in big moments.

It’s shaped in everyday conversations:
  • When your child makes a mistake
  • When emotions feel big
  • When they’re corrected, redirected, or rushed
  • When they’re seeking reassurance

As a pediatrician, I’ve seen how well-meaning words can unintentionally plant doubt.
 As a mom who once struggled with low self-esteem herself, I know how early it can start.

That’s why I created this guide.

When you download this free guide, you’ll learn:

✅ 10 common parenting mistakes that can quietly hurt a child’s confidence

✅ What to say instead—simple language swaps that build emotional security

âś… How to support confidence without yelling, shaming, or overcorrecting

✅ How to lay a strong self-esteem foundation during the most formative years (ages 3–8)

No guilt.
 No parenting perfection.
 Just awareness, grace, and better tools.

WHY IT MATTERS

Children who feel safe, seen, and valued early on are more likely to:
  • Speak up
  • Try again after failure
  • Believe they are capable
  • Carry a strong sense of identity into adolescence

And it all starts with what they hear at home.


Give your child words that build them up, for life.

Download the Free Parenting Mistakes Guide