Of course, yes. But there are a few pitfalls.
One is that parents should not try to boost their self-esteem directly. The story of the campaign in the US and Europe to boost self-esteem in children is a classic example of good intentions that pave the way. Children were taught to think well of themselves, forgetting to teach them to do something really well, fight boredom and frustration and overcome difficulties.
It turned out that children with high (but artificially inflated and therefore unstable) self-esteem are prone to outbursts of anger and aggression. They look confident, but are actually very sensitive to the opinions of others. To protect their “I” from encroachment, they become aggressive and reject any criticism. When children are not allowed to experience failure and disappointment in themselves, when they receive undeserved praise, this deprives them of the opportunity to develop resistance to frustration and perseverance, deprives them of motivation. If they see themselves as special and unique individuals with a guaranteed right to happiness, it’s hard for them to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. It is more difficult for them to look at the situation from the outside, and they are likely to consider only their own lives important. The failures and disappointments that are an integral part of our existence may one day be too much for them. I repeat once again: a stable and adequate self-esteem is wonderful. Those who have it are much happier than those who do not. But usually it is a consequence, and not the cause of high qualification and good results.
As a psychologist and as a mother, I constantly feel the burden of responsibility for the psychological well-being of our teenagers, including for them to develop the right attitude towards themselves. I sent them to a scout troop and didn’t know anything about them for three weeks as they climbed ancient volcanoes in central France (mobile phones weren’t allowed). I don’t give them pocket money, but I give them opportunities to earn it. I support them in all the difficulties and trials they choose to go through, from daily bodybuilding to math problems. And I refuse to drive my eldest son (he is 16) to his girlfriend, although she lives in another town, which is 8 miles away and there is no public transport. You should have seen his pride when he first rode back and forth on a bicycle – he behaved almost like a medieval knight who galloped day and night to see his beloved.