Children with high self-esteem tend to feel better about themselves and are more optimistic when things don't go their way. According to KidsHealth, a child with a healthy self-esteem will have an easier time facing life's challenges. On the other hand, poor self-esteem can cause problems for a child at home, at school and in her social life. However, you can accomplish building up a child's self-esteem by engaging her in a variety of activities that help her see her good qualities and strengths.
Making a List
Children suffering from low self-esteem who make a list of positive items about themselves will often feel a boost in good feelings, says the National Mental Health Information Center. Lists could contain the child's strengths, things he is good at and accomplishments he's made. Providing a journal for this purpose gives a child a safe place to put down information that can help him discover reasons to feel good about himself.
Positive Affirmations
According to the National Mental Health Information Center, saying something good about herself, even if no one can hear, enables a child to feel good about herself and increase her self-esteem. For example, have her tell herself that she is a good person, she takes care of herself and she has friends and people who like her. She can use these affirmations to lift her spirits and put her on track to improving her self-esteem.
Mentoring
When a child who has low self-esteem mentors or helps someone else, it can increase his feelings of worth. KidsHealth suggests having older children who feel badly about themselves read to younger children. The act of doing something for someone else can improve a child's positive feelings about himself and help him see that other people like him and want him around. Involvement with a program like Big Brothers, Big Sisters can benefit both the child suffering from low self-esteem issues and the child whom he chooses to mentor.
Games
SelfEsteem2Go.com recommends engaging children in board games to boost positive feelings about themselves. Games like chess, checkers, Monopoly and Scrabble are good choices. The reason board games are beneficial to self-esteem in children is because they allow players the opportunity to praise each other's game skills and give kids the chance to feel good about understanding the rules. Enjoying a board game with friends and family members aids children in knowing that the people around them like their company and have fun when they are around.
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