A child who develops strong self-esteem is more likely to be emotionally healthy and achieve success as an adult. When kids feel good about themselves, they reflect it in positive ways, whereas children who have poor self-images often have behavior problems. Dr. William Sears, pediatrician and parenting expert, points out that playtime is one way to build a child's self confidence. Children learn through play, and when parents participate, kids feel special. Let your child choose the games he wants to play. This increases his sense of self-worth as he realizes that you like to do the same things he does.
Compliment Beanbag
Children who get along with others usually have higher self-esteem because they feel like they are a part of a group. Individuals tend to have a strong sense of self-worth when other people like them and think they are special. Compliment beanbag is one game that helps children build self-esteem and improve their social skills.
To play, children sit in a circle with friends or family members. Each person takes a turn throwing the beanbag to someone else in the circle. When a child throws the beanbag to another person, she must give that person a compliment. The person receiving the beanbag must then compliment the person who threw the beanbag.
Compliment beanbag provides good practice for giving and receiving compliments. It gives children an opportunity to hear the good things that people have to say about them, building trust and acceptance within the group.
Free Play
Free play allows a child to make up his own games and play on his terms. While parents should take time to interact with children while they are playing, there might be times when your child wants to play on his own. Play allows children opportunities to express themselves and work through feelings that are bothering them. Supporting a child's imaginative play can help build her self-esteem. Free playtime also gives children some time to relax.
Pretend Play
Children begin to play games of pretend at a very young age. Pretend helps a child learn about problem solving and is essential to healthy esteem. This type of play enhances a child's self-esteem by contributing to her social, cognitive, physical and emotional development.
Tools can help facilitate a child's games of pretend. Children often play make-believe games using pots and pans, plastic serving utensils, dress up clothes and other items. Your child may pretend that she is you, a doctor, a store clerk or a teacher. Imaginative play that involves copying the actions of the adults around them allows children to learn how to master everyday skills, giving them a sense of accomplishment and success.
Team Sports
Allow your child to play sports and be involved in extracurricular activities, even if he has a disability. Adapted sports offer slight changes to the rules or layout of the game so that anyone can play. For example, volleyball can be played from a seated position for children who can't stand. A parent can actually hurt a disabled child's self-esteem by trying to talk him out of playing a sport. If your child says he can do it, he most likely can, so let him try. The Cure Our Children Foundation points out that children do not have to be the best at something they do in order to have good self-esteem. They simply need to know that people believe in them.
Team sports can help improve any child's self-esteem by teaching him how to develop social skills. Children learn to celebrate their successes, large or small, when playing as a member of a sports team. Sports activities give kids the opportunity to set goals and feel good about themselves when they achieve those goals.
