This guest article was written by Christine Howell who regularly writes about online health care degrees and college related topics for Online College Guru, an online college degree guide.

Adolescence offers many challenges both to parents and teenagers. Increasing independence and consequent responsibilities, emotional and physical changes, and pressure at home and school can put enormous strain on a teen's already fragile self-esteem. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to help your teen improve his or her self-image and enhance their psychological well-being.

Listen

Parents often complain of a lack of communication with their teenagers. In fact, most teenagers are desperate for a friendly, non-judgmental shoulder to cry on and a willing ear to listen without scolding or criticizing. If you can provide this emotional support for your teenager, you can forge a closer relationship and build trust. It's essential to listen, rather than talk. Of course, you can give advice if it's requested, but don't interrupt in order to do so. By simply listening, you can better understand the challenges your teenager faces; you'll also be demonstrating respect for your child, which can also significantly bolster self-esteem.

Act

Staying active and participating in extracurricular activities can help your teenager feel included and important, and can develop social skills he or she will benefit from in years to come. By participating in church groups, sports teams, musical groups, or other interest-based activities, teenagers learn to work together and gain valuable experience in an informal social setting. This can be especially important for shy or socially awkward teens who lack self-confidence; by achieving small successes in these relaxed gatherings, they can build self-esteem. Athletic activities can also provide health benefits and improve appearance, another crucial element of a positive self-image.

Take risks

By stepping outside his or her comfort zone, your teenager can explore new ideas and activities that may be unfamiliar or require effort to understand and master. This promotes adaptability and flexibility, two traits your child will need in later life. Trying something new and succeeding can boost your teen's self-confidence. Even in failure, your teenager should be praised for having had the courage to attempt something new and encouraged to continue exploring unfamiliar options and possibilities.

Celebrate successes

While everyone enjoys being praised for their achievements, it's especially important to praise teenagers when they've performed well. Adolescence is a time of growth, but with that growth comes insecurity and uncertainty. Letting your child know that their accomplishments are noticed and appreciated is one of the best ways of boosting their self-confidence and motivating them to perform well in the future. Even the smallest achievement can build self-esteem if it earns praise and respect from others.

Set realistic goals

Teenagers often have unrealistic expectations of themselves and their own abilities; parents can help by discussing these goals and breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps. For instance, if your teen wants to be a famous actress, you might suggest that she try out for the school play or musical; for an aspiring rock star, guitar lessons might be in order. It's essential that teens realize the correlation between effort and achievement; memorizing lines and practicing chords may not lead to fame and fortune, but they will give your teen a clear idea of the kind of work involved in order to achieve their goals.

Most importantly, relax. Your teen will take many cues from how you react to various situations and challenges; be a good role model. Treat your teenager with respect and encourage his or her interests and activities. By showing your teen that you value his or her opinions and achievements, you can reinforce fragile self-esteem and promote a sense of well-being that can last a lifetime.