When Children Don't Feel That They Matter

Summary: It is very important for kids to feel like they matter. "Mattering" means feeling valued, seen, and important to others. It protects kids from stress, depression, and bad behavior.

Sometimes, even if parents say "I love you" every day, a child might still feel bad on the inside. For example, one little boy got frustrated easily and kept calling himself stupid. It turned out he had ADHD and a learning disability. Because school was hard for him, he felt like he didn't matter. Once he got special help at school and started volunteering as a teen, he finally felt valuable.

Parents should pay close attention to how their kids feel about themselves. If a child feels bad about themselves for more than six months, parents should talk to them and get help from a mental health professional.

For more details, see Psychology Today at psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-matters/202605/when-children-dont-feel-that-they-matter (opens in new tab)