In recent decades we’ve heard a lot about the importance of building children self-esteem. But simply telling kids how wonderful and awesome they are five times a day won’t do the trick. Kids need to develop the right type of self-esteem: one based on an accurate and realistic assessment of their own internal strengths. This can only come from real-world experience, but our self-esteem curriculum will promote the type of messages and beliefs that make it easier for children do develop a positive self image.
Self Esteem Curriculum Resources
Self Esteem Activities for Kids
How teachers can build children’s self-esteem
Promoting a positive self-esteem in children isn’t about showering them with flattering praise. It involves teaching them a collective of ideas that will help them feel more secure in any situation. It’s about giving them experiences that will help them develop confidence in their abilities, while reinforcing the idea that it’s not a disaster if they don’t excel at everything. To this end, teachers should reinforce the following ideas:
- Failure is part of the process of gaining competence, and mistakes the only way of learning.
- Success comes from effort, not talent; practice makes perfect.
- Mastery comes through perseverance and not giving up.
- Everyone is unique and uniquely special.
- We all have our own set of strengths and weaknesses.
- Winning isn’t everything; life’s not a competition.
How teachers should praise children
How you praise children can have a dramatic effect on their self-esteem. Your praise is like a laser pointer telling kids what to believe about themselves and the nature of their abilities. The right type of praise promotes a positive self-esteem, while the wrong kind can diminish it.
- Praise children for their effort rather than their innate talent. Praising kids for their effort teaches them that success comes from trying hard, and that they can always get better at something by working at it. Praising kids for their talent suggests they either have it or they don’t, and leaves them feeling discouraged if they aren’t good at something right away.
- Praise kids for “good tries” even if they don’t succeed, which encourages them to keep trying.
- Praise children for things done well, but don’t offer empty praise for everything they do.
Everyday ways to promote positive self-esteem in the classroom:
- Allow kids plenty of opportunities to exercise their independence and take on new responsibilities.
- Engage in lots of creative projects that allow kids to exercise their imagination.
- Do projects that allow kids the opportunity to create useful things with their hands.
- Provide opportunities for kids to teach their own unique knowledge and skills to others.
- Offer classroom awards or certificates that recognize children for their accomplishments.
For more detailed information on self-esteem in children, see the following links:
- Self-esteem in children
- The self-esteem trap
- Low self-esteem in children
- Improving children’s self-esteem
- Attitudes that promote a positive self-esteem in children