Self-esteem is the idea of feeling good about ourselves, and it is easy to observe among kids if they have a good feeling about certain things or when they are not feeling good.
Kids with self-esteem:
- They feel liked and accepted
- They are confident.
- They feel proud of what they do
- They think good about themselves
- They believe in themselves.
Kids with low self-esteem:
- They are self-critical and hard on themselves
- They feel they’re not as good as other kids
- They think of failure rather than success
- They feel a lack of confidence
- They doubt that things can go well.
Why self-esteem is important?
Children feeling good about themselves always attempt to do new activities. Always willing to give their all for the activities of their interest. They are pleased with their abilities. Self-esteem assists children in dealing with mistakes. Even if they fail the first time, self-esteem will help children try again. As a result, self-esteem helps children do better in school, at home, and with their peers.
Most children with low self-esteem are unsure about themselves. If they believe others will not accept them, they tend not to participate. They may allow others to mistreat them. Moreover, they may struggle to advocate for themselves. They may give up quickly or fail to try at all. When a child have poor self-esteem, it is difficult for them to cope when they make a mistake, loses, or fails.
Self-esteem can develop as early as infancy. It evolves gradually over time. Further, It can begin simply because a youngster feels secure, loved, and accepted. It might start when a baby receives positive attention and tender care.
What are the signs of self-esteem development?
Self-esteem can develop as children grow. Giving a chance opportunity, children will try new things and learn new things leading to increased self-esteem. This can occur when children:
- Making progress toward a specific goal
- Learning activities at school
- Socialize and make friends
- Learning skills
- help, give, or be kind
- get praise for good behaviors
- try hard at something
- are included by others
- feel understood and accepted
How do parents play their role in self-esteem development?
Parents may make their children feel good about themselves by doing the following:
Assist your youngster in learning new skills. There are new things for children to learn at every age. Even in infancy, learning to grasp a cup or take first steps inspires a sense of accomplishment and happiness. Learning to dress, read, or ride a bike are all opportunities for your child’s self-esteem to increase as they grow.
When teaching children how to accomplish something, show and assist them at first. Then let them try their best, even if they make mistakes. Make sure your youngster has the opportunity to learn, attempt, and feel proud. Make new problems neither too easy nor too difficult.
Praise your youngster, but do so with caution. Of course, children should be praised. Your compliments demonstrate your pride. However, some methods of rewarding children can backfire.
What are the right things to do?
Don’t exaggerate your praise. Praise that does not feel earned is untrue. For example, telling a child that he played a fantastic game when he knows he didn’t feel hollow and phony. It’s preferable to say something like, “I know that wasn’t your best game, but we all have bad games.” I admire you for not giving up.
Recognize and reward effort. Avoid praising simple achievements (like achieving an A) or fixed attributes (like being clever or athletic).
Set a good example. You set a positive example when you put effort into routine duties like raking leaves, cooking a meal, cleaning the dishes, or washing the car.
Modeling the appropriate attitude is also important. When you complete duties pleasantly (or at least without grumbling or whining), your child does the same. When you resist hurrying through tasks and value a job well done, you are teaching your child to do the same.
Prohibit harsh criticism. The messages about themselves that children hear from others quickly convert into how they feel about themselves. Harsh statements (“You’re so lazy!”) are demotivating rather than motivating. When children receive negative messages about themselves, their self-esteem suffers. Correct children patiently. Concentrate on what you want them to do the next time. Show them how to do it as necessary.
Concentrate on your best qualities. Take note of what your youngster excels at and enjoys. Make sure your youngster has opportunities to develop these skills. If you want to make kids feel good about themselves, emphasize their strengths rather than flaws. This also improves behavior.
Allow children to assist and give. When children see that what they accomplish matters to others, their self-esteem develops. Kids can assist at home, participate in a service project at school, or do a favor for a sibling. Helping others and performing acts of kindness increase self-esteem and other positive emotions.
Also See: Importance of Nutrition in our Daily Life to Maintain Good Health?
Sources:
- http://Alivernini, F., and Lucidi, F. (2011). Relationship between social context, self-efficacy, motivation, academic achievement, and intention to drop out of high school: a longitudinal study. J. Educ. Res. 104, 241–252. doi: 10.1080/00220671003728062
- http://Lim, Y., and Lee, O. (2017). Relationships between parental maltreatment and adolescents’ school adjustment: mediating roles of self-esteem and peer attachment. J. Child Fam. Stud. 26, 393–404. doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0573-8
- http://Peng, W., Li, D., Li, D., Jia, J., Wang, Y., and Sun, W. (2019). School disconnectedness and adolescent internet addiction: mediation by self-esteem and moderation by emotional intelligence. Comput. Hum. Behav. 98, 111–121. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2019.04.011
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