Promoting a Positive Self-Concept

When guiding children’s behavior, your actions should always promote a positive self-concept in each child.  A child’s self-concept includes the qualities the child believes he or she possesses. It is a result of beliefs, feelings, and perceptions a child has of himself or herself. Children’s self-concepts reflect the feelings others have for them and the confidence they have in themselves.

Children’s self-concepts are mirrored in their behavior. A child who lacks confidence may reveal feelings of inadequacy. For instance, the child may not be willing to try new activities, may withdraw from an experience, show little curiosity, or appear overly anxious or overly dependent. This child may also be hostile, seek attention, or perform poorly.

Children with positive self-concepts perceive themselves as able and important. They accept and respect themselves as well as others. These children are often able to judge their own skills and cope with problems they confront. Typically, they are more objective and understand other people’s behaviors.

You can promote or undermine a child’s self-concept by your words and actions. In many subtle ways, a child care professional affects how children feel about themselves. Your reactions may give children the feeling they are bad or annoying. For instance, you may need to ask children to be quiet. Consider the message the children will receive. If you ask them to be quiet because they are too noisy, they may feel they are bad people because they make too much noise. If you ask them to use quiet voices so you can hear your friends, the children see they can help you by being quieter. They do not feel they are bad, noisy people.

If a child spills juice, do you call the child clumsy or react negatively by scowling? Instead, do you accept this as a common behavior for a young child and help wipe up the spill? Caring adults are able to separate children’s needs from their own. Clearly, they are able to see the difference between adult’s needs and children’s.

Every day you provide subtle messages in the form of verbal and nonverbal feedback. These signals can either promote or decrease children’s sense of self-esteem. You can make children feel appreciated, worthy, loved, and secure by being accepting, concerned, and respectful. Helping young children grow to respect themselves, as well as others, is not easy. Listen carefully to what you say and how you say it. Consider the impact your words have on the children. Watch the subtle ways you interact with them. Your message should always convey they are important.

There are many ways you, as a child care professional, can promote the development of positive self-concepts.

Related training:
Child Self Esteem (1 hour / .1 CEU)
A Simple Approach to Knowing the WAC's: Staff Interactions with Children - 2 hours
10 Hours Enhancement of Social and Emotional Development
Content Area 6: Interactions (10 hours / 1 CEU) - Online STARS Training