How to Identify Children with High and Low Self-Esteem

Children with high self esteem......

• Are willing to try new things
• Have faith in their own abilities
• Are willing to make decisions
• Are willing take risks
• Are independent
• Feel confident
• Have leadership qualities

Children with low self-esteem......

• Feel unacceptable, incompetent and unlikeable
• Are fearful of new interactions and new situations
• Are shy or overly aggressive
• Lack faith in their own abilities
• Can be dependent on adults to do things for them
• Lack autonomy
• Can be immature
• Follower

Some Common Effects of Low Self-Esteem:

1. Lack of self-confidence- children have little confidence in their abilities.
2. Poor performance- lack of self confidence may result in making little or no effort toward realizing projects or goals.
3. Distorted view of self and others- children won't give themselves credit for their accomplishments. They may think others look better in comparison. They may also believe that things just happen to them-they don't make them happen.
4. Unhappy personal life- negative people aren't fun to be around. Children with low self-esteem find it hard to develop close relationships.

Some Factors that Influence Your Self-Esteem

1. Relationships with your parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, etc... -experiences with family from birth right up to present.
2. Relationships with childhood friends, and neighbours-- experiences with clubs, sports, teams and hobbies.
3. Relationships with classmates, teachers, administrators and counsellors-- experiences with schoolwork, extracurricular activities, sports, discipline, etc...
4. Relationships with members of different cultures, races and religions- experiences with standards and images created by others (i.e. the media).
5. In general- positive experiences and fulfilling relationships help raise self-esteem. Negative experiences and troubled relationships tend to lower self-esteem. No single event or person can determine your level of self-esteem. It develops over time, constantly changing with experience.

To book your workshop now, email Susan at susanl@familysupport.net or call at 416-512-6356.

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