Guidance & Counseling

SELF-ESTEEM & CHILD

SELF-CONCEPT

What is SELF-CONCEPT? • A person's self-concept is his knowledge

about himself. • Similar to how he can know other

people, and know facts about how they tend to think, and what they enjoy doing, and what their temperament is like, he can also know these things about himself.

• It answers the question: WHO AM I?

• Self-esteem, rather than being something that you know about yourself, is your general attitude towards yourself.

• It refers to the extent to which we like, accept or approve of ourselves or how much we value ourselves.

What is SELF-ESTEEM?

• Self esteem always involves a degree of evaluation and we may have either a positive or negative view of ourselves. This can vary depending on the situation and what have been going on lately, and any feedback you have gotten recently from your environment and people around you.

• It answers the question: AM I GOOD ENOUGH?

Signs of Healthy Self-esteem

• A child who has healthy self-esteem tends to enjoy interacting with others.

• S/he is comfortable in social settings and enjoys group activities as well as independent pursuits.

• When challenges arise, s/he is able to work toward finding solutions.

• S/he voices discontent without belittling his/herself or others. For example, rather than saying, “I’m an idiot,” a child with healthy self-esteem says, “I don’t understand this.”

• S/he knows his/her strengths and weaknesses, and accepts them.

• A sense of optimism prevails.

Signs of Unhealthy Self-esteem

• A child who has low self-esteem may not want to try new things.

• S/he may frequently speak negatively about his/herself, saying such things as, “I’m stupid,” “I’ll never learn how to do this,” or “What’s the point? Nobody cares about me anyway.”

• The child may exhibit a low tolerance for frustration, giving up easily or waiting for somebody else to take over.

• Children with low self-esteem tend to be overly critical of and easily disappointed in themselves.

• Kids with low self-esteem see temporary setbacks as permanent, intolerable conditions.

• A sense of pessimism predominates.

How to Foster Healthy Self-esteem in the Child

Be a role model. Focus on the child. Be consistent.

Tell him/her you are happy when s/he cooperates or helps you.

Help him/her find something s/he is good at and enjoys.

Support the child and offer genuine praise.

Help him/her learn from his/her mistakes.

Provide the child with responsibilities and

opportunities . Offer choices and the chance to

problem-solve. Create a safe, loving home

environment.

There are two kinds of

people in the world.

The one that says “I wish I

had”

&

The one that says “I’m

glad I did”.