Ways of fostering individual child's <span title="self-esteem/self-confidence?">self-esteem/self-confiden...</span>

Question

As part of an assignment, I need to find out different ways (specific examples.) of fostering individuals child's self-esteem. I also need to include an activity which fosters children's self-confidence skills for toddlers. Does anyone have any ideas? If anyone could provide any that would be great, thanks.

Answer 1

Anything that helps children build skills and become competent - helps build sellf-esteem!  A few things that we can do to help in this endeavor are:

Model appropriate behavior; children model after people they respect. Let them know that you feel  good about yourself. Also let them know that you make mistakes and learn from them.

Additionally, make children feel lovable and competent:

Listen to them.

Look them in the eyes when you talk to them.

Go down to their level when you talk to them.

Use their ideas.

Don’t change or improve their projects.

Put up all work-- good or bad.

Allow them their creativity—leave the “blue grass” and “raggedy edges” alone!

Notice the positive in them; give them individual attention.

Use their name; greet them daily.

Present activities within their skill range.

Give them responsibility and jobs at their development level.

Have reasonable expectations.

Give sincere praise; recognition. Be specific…”Oh, look at the reds and greens!”

Know the “general development” for the different ages and stages of the children--but also get to know the children individually.

Help the rejected child learn ways to make friends.

Define limits, rules, and boundaries clearly; be consistent.

Don’t make children feel attacked or defensive when there are problems; work with them  to find solutions or alternative behaviors.

Help children realize how they feel about their accomplishments—NOT how other people  feel about them.   Example : “Mrs. Green, I finished it all!&quot; (or for an older child--- &quot;I got an A on my test!&quot; Your reply for either could be,

&quot;Great, how’s it feel?  I saw you really working  hard this morning!” ----instead of--- &quot;I&#039;m proud of you...&quot;

Children learn through play. In play with  toddlers ---take care in meeting needs with the above suggestions--and provide opportunities where the children will learn and eventually will see  themselves as competent and interesting people. For  toddlers, play activities are endless!

......... Dressing themselves, block building-stacking, dress-up and house-keeping, cooking, message books, games, art, music, movement, time to play with other children---anything and everything!

Don’t give into “learned helplessness”. When children say they can’t do something, show them how in stages so they can. As they grown you can also say, “If you could, how would you start it?”

Answer 2

Everychild has their own strength/weaknesses. We must observe and understand each of their strength and weaknesses, then note it down and plan the program for them in both strengthen their strength and also help in their weaknesses, if you can devide them into small group and foster is even better because not everyone can cope with it.

Play &amp; Learn is the best~!

For example, if the toodler is very good in memorize but weak in drawing, you can assign him/her to memorize a short essay/story (real short one for toddler) and read back out, as for the weak point, can start with a simple drawing with circles~! (a cat drawing using circles? 1 small &amp; 1 big circle, 2 triangle as the ear.....)

Answer 3

Assuming you are a student in a college/university class, I suggest you visit and interview teachers who have personal experience with toddlers. I would suspect you were asked to do this,

Answer 4

Any task can be given to a child but the adult must ensure that the task IS ACHIEVABLE. The child will be self rewarded and receive praise from adults and peers. This is the way to foster self esteem. NEVER give a child a task that you are unsure that he will achieve.

Answer 5

Whatever the activity, a great way to boost the childs self esteem is to compliment them that they are great at the task they are doing. Not just &quot;good job!&quot; Say &quot;Eric you are a great builder&quot;, or &quot;Jenny you are great at drawing...&quot; address that they are good at the task.