Building self esteem in young children

1. Building self esteem in young children How to build self esteem in a child that will last a lifetime.

2. Why is self esteem important? • Self-esteem is the value we place on what we believe to be true about ourselves; how we feel about ourselves; and/or an emotion we hold true about ourselves. • How children feel about themselves affects the way they act. • How children feel and think about themselves can change each day.

3. There are two kinds of self esteem • High (positive) self esteem • children with high self-esteem consider themselves worthy, and view themselves as equal to others. They recognize their limitations, expect to grow and improve, and do not pretend to be perfect. • Low (negative) self esteem • Those with low in self-esteem generally experience self-rejection, self-dissatisfaction, self-contempt, and self-disparagement. High (positive) self esteem Low (negative) self esteem

4. Most of the time, children with high self-esteem will: • Make friends easily. • Show enthusiasm for new activities. • Be cooperative and follow age-appropriate rules. • Control their behavior. • Play by themselves and with other children. • Like to be creative and have their own ideas. • Be happy, fully of energy, and talk to others without much encouragement. • Most of the time, children with low self-esteem will: • Is overly sensitive to criticism, and afraid to make a mistake. • Is overly critical of others and self. • Blames others. • Feels persecuted. • Has a fear of competition and/or is reluctant to try new things. • Is over-responsive to praise. • Is shy, timid, or withdrawn. • Is uncertain of own opinions and values. • May be jealous or possessive. • Has difficulty entering into loving relationships. Characteristics of a person with high or positive self-esteem Characteristics of a person with low or negative self-esteem

5. Building Blocks to Self-EsteemStrategies for Building Children’s Self-Esteem • Trust • Self • Belonging • Purpose • Success • Strategies for Building Children’s Self-Esteem • One of the best ways to foster children’s self-esteem is to get them to feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for their experiences. • By providing learning opportunities and experiences throughout the building stages, adults can have a profound and positive influence on a child’s self-esteem. In the words of Jack Canfield, “Success will only result if the adult leader is a caring, capable, and lovable individual that can communicate a feeling of importance and self-worth to others. A positive self-esteem is extremely important to the individual. And teaching self-esteem, after all, is simply a way to help CHILDREN overcome their negative ideas about themselves and to discover their unique potentials.”

6. Refrences • Cutright, M. C. February 1992. "Self-Esteem: The Key to a Child's Success and Happiness." PTA Today 17 (4): 5-6. • Dusa, G. S. February 1992. "15 Ways Parents Can Boost Self-Esteem." Learning 20 (6): 26-27. • Katz, L.G. 1993. Distinctions Between Self-Esteem and Narcissism: Implications for Practice. Urbana, IL: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. ED 363 452. • Kramer, P. April 1992. "Fostering Self-Esteem Can Keep Kids Safe and Sound." PTA Today 17 (6): 10-11. • Markus, H.R., and S. Kitayama. 1991. "Culture and the Self: Implications for Cognition, Emotions, and Motivation." Psychological Review 98 (2): 224-253. • Hyperlink