Self Esteem

What is self-esteem?

Self-esteem is how a person feels about themselves. Most children will have dips in self-esteem as they go through different stages or challenges in life, and there are different pressures that may affect them - including social media, bullying, exams, and family problems

Things like starting a new school, moving house or going through changes in the family can also affect a child’s confidence - but with support from parents and other adults they can usually get through this.

People with good self-esteem:

feel liked and accepted
feel confident
feel proud of what they can do
think good things about themselves
believe in themselves

People with low self-esteem:

are self-critical and hard on themselves
feel they're not as good as other kids
think of the times they fail rather than when they succeed
lack confidence
doubt they can do things well

WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A PARENT/CARER?

Be positive towards your child - show them that you value them as a person
Help your child learn to do things . At every age, there are new things for them to learn. Even during babyhood, learning to hold a cup or take first steps sparks a sense of mastery and delight. As your child grows, things like learning to dress themselves, read, or ride a bike are chances for self-esteem to grow. Encourage their independence.
Think before you speak, and try not to put them down when you’re angry.
Give praise - offer most of your praise for effort, progress, and attitude. For example: "You're working hard on that project," "You're getting better and better at these spelling tests," or, "I'm proud of you for practicing — you've really stuck with it." With this kind of praise children are more likely put effort into things, work toward goals, and try. When they do that, they're more likely to succeed.
Reassure them that it’s OK to make mistakes let them know you value effort over perfection.
Acknowledge their feelings and help them to express their feelings in words.
Focus on strengths not weaknesses.
Respect your child’s interests (even if they sometimes seem boring to you).
Use creativity to help them express themselves; art, drama, music, etc.
Make sure your expectations of them are realistic and achievable.
Help them feel included in decision making and answer their questions in a thoughtful way.

For more information about self esteem and confidence please visit the websites below. If you feel that your child needs more help please speak to your child's class teacher or to Ms Towers about getting some support from Mrs Wareham our ELSA/Learning mentor.