Every parent would probably be quick to say that his or her child is “the best,” “the brightest,” the “most talented,” or the “most beautiful / handsome” – of course, this is a biased opinion in most cases!

However, no matter how proud we are of our little bundles of joy, we would do well to teach them that being humble and thinking of others “more highly” than themselves are among the best traits they could ever have. In fact, being humble is a common trait among great leaders.

The famous Catholic theologian and writer St. Augustine explains this quite nicely in the quote below:
“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”

How then do we begin to teach our kids to be humble? Here are a few pointers to remember:

1. Teach by example.
If you want your child to be humble, model humility in your home and your family. This is how humility is “caught.” Be consistent and look for ways to show them that thinking of others more highly than one’s self is not a weakness, but is actually a way to appreciate the good in others. Take note though, being humble does not equate to being a “doormat” or letting others take advantage of you.

2. Build their confidence.
It may seem ironic but humility begins with self-acceptance and self-confidence. Our children need to be taught to have self-assurance. This comes from knowing that they are accepted - primarily by us, their parents - no matter what.

3. Encourage them to achieve and to be the best in everything.
Again, this may seem contra-indicative, but your child will learn best to be humble when she actually has something to be proud of – e.g. a good grade, an athletic accomplishment, a theatrical performance, etc. Encourage them to live by the motto: “Do their best and God will do the rest.”

4. Do all you can to ensure that they know and understand where their real value lies.
Your children need to understand that they are valued and loved “just because” – because they are your children. Help them to see that they are special and important not because they are “better” or “smarter” than other people, or they are more well-off or talented than others.