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(Unit 3) Topic 4: Supporting Self-Esteem

2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Supporting Self-Esteem

Topic 4 Page 5

There are many ways that an early childhood educator can help children to develop self-esteem. Some ideas are:

Be a positive role model.
Don’t be too hard on yourself or speak ill of yourself. Children will mirror what they see.

Identify and redirect negative remarks.
If a child speaks ill of themselves, it is important to identify this and to redirect their negativity about themselves to a more realistic and positive standard.

Give positive feedback.
Instead of saying “You get so frustrated and lose your temper!” try instead, “I know that you are upset, but it was very responsible of you to talk about your feelings instead of yelling.”

Create a safe environment.
Children who don’t feel safe are at greatest risk for low and unhealthy self-esteem. This may be due to the lack of the feeling of control that they have in their lives. Creating a safe environment gives children a sense of relief and control and allows them to build their confidence.

Respect their opinions.
Showing children that their opinions are valued and respected helps support their self-esteem and build their confidence.

Value the children in your care.
Caregivers who verbally express positive respect and recognition to the children in their care create a warm and welcoming environment.