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Self Esteem Activities

It is important to nurture a healthy self-esteem in kids from an early age. A child with high self-esteem will be more confident, happier and better equipped to deal with the challenges of life. There are many things you can do as a teacher, parent or caregiver to help boost a child’s self-esteem. These self esteem activities vary for different age groups.

As teachers and parents it is our job to build the self confidence and self esteem for our children. You can learn learn more with the Self Esteem Journal for Kids + Ebook program.

WHY IS POSITIVE SELF ESTEEM IMPORTANT FOR KIDS?

A healthy self-esteem is important for kids because it helps them feel good about themselves and cope with the challenges of growing up. When kids have a positive self-esteem, they feel confident and are more likely to take risks, which can lead to new experiences and successes.

A positive self-image can also help kids form strong relationships and deal with setbacks. Kids with low self-esteem may avoid new activities, withdraw from friends and family, and struggle with depression and anxiety.

Ultimately, kids need to feel good about themselves in order to lead happy and fulfilling lives. So parents and caregivers should work to promote a positive self-esteem in the kids they care about.

SELF ESTEEM ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS

Here are some ideas to encourage self esteem in preschoolers:

  • Encourage your child to try new things and praise their efforts, no matter how small.
  • Model positive behavior
  • Foster internal motivational techniques
  • Avoid negative comments.
  • Make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to play and explore.
  • Encourage your child to express their feelings freely.

SELF ESTEEM ACTIVITY FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

As children get older, self esteem becomes even more important. Try some of these self esteem activities for elementary students:

  • Encourage your child to set goals and celebrate their accomplishments, no matter how small.
  • Allow your kid to see you overcome challenges and setbacks, so he or she will learn how to cope with failure and disappointments in a healthy manner.
  • Encourage your child to be accepting of others and praise them for displaying kindness and compassion.
  • Make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to try new things and express themselves.
  • Foster internal motivation.

SELF ESTEEM ACTIVITIES FOR TEENS

Teens often face unique challenges when it comes to self esteem. Here are some activities to help boost your teen’s self esteem:

  • Encourage your teen to express their feelings freely and openly.
  • Promote and encourage your teen to handle disappointment and setbacks in a positive way.
  • Help your teen identify their own personal strengths and weaknesses and work on improving the areas that need it.
  • Encourage your teen to set SMART goals and work towards them.
  • Teach your teen to be accepting of others and respect different opinions.
  • Help your teens to work on improving areas of their life that they are not happy with.
  • Encourage teens to spend time with people who make them feel good about themselves.
  • Participate in activities that make your teen feel good about themselves.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE SELF ESTEEM IN YOUR CHILDREN

Self esteem is incredibly important for children. It shapes how they see themselves and how they interact with the world around them. There are many things that parents can do to encourage self esteem in their children.

Self-esteem and self-confidence can easily be the victim of comparison to peers or others. It can be difficult (especially for teens) to feel successful or feel good about themselves when their environment pushes them to do otherwise.

As a parent, you can help your children develop a sense of their self-worth, rather than letting the people around them influence them. A child who feels a sense of belonging, security, and good health will be a winner no matter what happens.

Try using positive affirmations as a part of your self esteem activities. Here are 10 self-esteem affirmations:

I am capable of accomplishing great things.

I am allowed to make mistakes without being perfect.

I am unique and special.

I can do anything I put my mind to.

I deserve to be happy and treated well.

I am allowed to express my feelings.

I don’t need to compare myself to others.

I am perfect just the way I am.

I am significant and have something special to offer.

I am whole, complete, and love myself just as I am. 

5 WAYS TO BOOST A CHILD’S SELF ESTEEM

Here are five ways you can use a positive parenting approach to help boost a child’s self esteem.

Love them unconditionally.

Unconditional love lets your child build their sense of self-worth on a solid foundation, not in competition with others. Ensure that your child can tell that your love does not depend on other factors, like grades, performance in sports, or popularity.

If a child feels that you only love them when they get good grades, star in the school play, or win a tennis championship may feel inadequate or worthless if they fail. Love them for who they are, not for what they can do for you.

Rather than push your agenda on your children, give them all the support they need with their choices as they get older.

Allow your child choices to participate in activities such as dance, sports, or a club, then support them. Instead of shaming them for not pursuing a particular path (and telling them you’re disappointed), help them find an activity that better suits them. Parents have a significant influence on their children.

If parents force their children to pursue a specific path, it places so much pressure on them and can cause them anxiety. But, with unconditional love and support, kids will be free to make good choices for themselves and have confidence in their decisions.

Encourage a growth mindset rather than a fixed one in the home.

Growth mindsets encourage kids to be open to new challenges, whether they’re learning to read a book, conquer a new language, trying a new sport, or tackling a complicated math problem.

Embracing a growth mindset is healthier for your kids’ mental health than a fixed mindset. Many children have fixed mindsets when it comes to their abilities. That means they believe their test scores and grades tell them everything they need to know.

A growth mindset can help children learn that they can constantly improve and continue to grow in confidence.

It’s important to allow children to make mistakes and learn from them. This will show them that it’s okay to not be perfect and that everyone has room to grow. Practice makes progress not perfection. 

Teach them to be assertive.

Kids and especially teens have to learn to take charge of their lives, set boundaries, talk to others respectfully, and speak up for themselves. That can be difficult for parents, but ultimately, it benefits the kids by raising their confidence in the long run.

You can teach assertiveness by practicing it yourself, setting clear rules, and saying no to your kids when they ask for something unreasonable. When they learn such skills early, they’ll apply them to other situations.

Not only will they speak up for themselves when people treat them poorly, but they’ll also be able to stand up for others when they need a shoulder.

Become a model of confidence.

One of the most important things parents can do early on is instilling in their children a belief in themselves. By believing in your children and reminding them that they can achieve great things, you help build confidence.

Confidence is an essential trait for your children to develop because it’s important to be able to stand on their own two feet and to believe in themselves.

Spending quality time with your children is a great way to boost their self esteem. Whether it’s reading together, playing games, or just chatting, taking the time to connect with your child will let them know that they are valued and loved. By taking these simple steps, parents can help their children develop healthy self esteem that will stay with them for a lifetime.

ENCOURAGE A SELF ESTEEM LADDER FOR LIFE

There is a step-by-step growth process when we develop self esteem in our children and ourselves for any challenge we face. Here are the steps of the ladder:

•Expectations

•Accountability

•Responsibility

•Choices

•Consequences

•Critical Thinking

•Calculated Risk Taking

•Success or Failure

•Learning

•Growth

•Confidence

Once we gain confidence in a certain skill, we land up back at the bottom of the ladder with new expectations for that task. With each success we achieve, we build our self-esteem. Encourage your children to start climbing their self-esteem ladder today!

Want to learn more? Check out this Self Esteem Ebook, Audiobook and Self Esteem Worksheets Journal.