Notes
- Self-esteem means liking yourself and believing in yourself.
- Self-esteem helps children to challenge themselves, try new things, learn better and grow.
- Loving relationships, balanced feedback and encouragement help develop children’s self-esteem.
About Self-Esteem
Self-esteem means liking yourself, feeling valuable, believing in yourself and knowing what you’re good at.
- Self-esteem gives children confidence.
- Try new things and if things don’t go as planned, try again.
Do something you don’t like very much or aren’t usually good at.
Embrace challenges instead of avoiding them. Children learn and grow by trying new things, facing challenges, and recovering. That’s why self-esteem can be a key component of a child’s development.
Babies and self-esteem
Newborns and toddlers don’t have true self-esteem because they don’t yet see themselves as independent people. However, you can build a foundation of healthy self-esteem by:
- Take care of your baby
- Respond when your baby cries
- Hold her close and laugh a lot. These warm, thoughtful interactions show your baby that he or she is loved and valued.
Toddlers and self-esteem
Young children begin to understand what they are capable of and what makes them human. Ways to boost your toddler’s self-esteem.
What toy they want to play with, whether they want jam or vegemite on their toast. This gives young children a stimulating sense of control, helping to develop confidence and self-esteem.
Give your child the opportunity to say “no” every now and then. Young children need to learn to advocate for themselves and that choices have consequences. For example, if you ask your child if he wants a drink and he answers “no,” that’s okay. Being thirsty won’t hurt him.
Let your child explore his surroundings, but make sure you’re available whenever he needs to. For example, your child may be curious about ants, but be scared when they crawl on his feet. Your child needs to know that everything will be okay.
Coach your child in difficult social situations. Sharing and taking turns can be difficult for young children as they learn who they are and what belongs to them. That means saying, “Now it’s my turn to take over the red block. That’s a great share, congratulations!”
Preschoolers and Self-Esteem
Children this age often like to compare themselves to others. You may wonder if they are the biggest, the fastest, or the best in their field. There are lots of things you can do to boost your child’s self-esteem and make them feel like their efforts are valued.
Here are some ideas:
Give your child balanced feedback. Praise them for trying, working hard, and trying new things, not for being “first.” Also encourage them to recognize the successes of others. For example: “You ran really well and tried really hard. Well done. I’m proud of you.”
Show your children that you care about them, whether they win or lose. For example, you can ask questions like “Did you try hard?” or “Did you have fun?” before asking “Did you win?”
Play simple board or card games together. Turn-taking games like these help your children learn to play cooperatively and get along with others. This helps your child develop skills and confidence in social situations. Encourage your child to help with household chores, like setting the table and putting away the laundry. This shows your child that you are responsible and trustworthy, which gives them good self-esteem.
