- Unconditional positive regard.
This is the most effective way to promote a child’s sense of self-esteem. It means regardless of if the child is doing the teacher’s expectations, the teacher regards them as the individual they are, and their being in the group.
- Honest recognition and praise.
The critical point about this way is that praising children should always be coupled with the recognition of something children have achieved. It means that praise should be based on performance. For example, when the child shares a toy with someone, use “Thank you for sharing that with Joey; you made him happy” instead of “Good boy; thank you.” Encouraging while recognizing what a child is accomplishing and saying it to the child is another effective way rather than praising to promote children’s self-esteem. E.g., “I bet you can do it if you try.”
- Respect.
Some ways to show respect to promote self-esteem are abiding child’s decision when they have been given a choice. Asking their opinion and listen carefully to their replies, avoid humiliating the child in front of other people, and explaining the reasons behind the rules. It all makes them feel important to be entitled to an explanation and intelligent enough to understand it.
- Helping the child achieve competence.
This way of promoting self-esteem causes children to have intrinsic satisfaction instead of external praise. They feel worthy and good about themselves because they can do something on their own, not because of being praised, rewarded, or because someone said so.
- Allow them to make them own choices and by being as independent as possible.
This way says that children should sometimes feel that they are in control of their environment, or they should keep the locus of control within them whenever it is reasonable and possible.
- Provide opportunities that are challenging but not so difficult so they can test themselves against difficulties.
Derring-do is an inborn quality that children like to try and have mastery in more challenging things. Parents/teachers should help them with that and do not stop them unless it is so dangerous. Parents/teachers should encourage children to keep trying and repeat practices to increase competence. They can not have mastery of something by doing it one time.
- Offer opportunities to do meaningful work.
Children feel proud and feel good when they help their group, other people, or adults—some tasks like washing painting brushes and organizing the books in the bookshelf.
- Offer creative activities.
Creative self-expression is a valuable way to build self-esteem. By doing creative activities like painting, collage, make something with clay, children feel they are powerful and can create anything they want.
