How to build self-esteem in children

ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPING CHILDREN'S SELF-ESTEEM

Bag Those Negative Messages

Have students blow up a small balloon. On the blown up balloon have students write everything they do not like about themselves. On a paper lunch bag have students list everything they like about themselves. Have the students place the balloon inside the bag. As a class have all the students stand up and place their bagged balloons on their seats. Have them all sit down at the same time, popping their balloons as they sit.

"My Self Esteem"

Have students write their names: I am M - agnificent

A - ble

R - espectful

Y - our friend

Compliment Notes

Give your child sticky notes with the following sentences are written:
Amy, you are good at . . . .
Bobby, I like the way you . . . .
Tommy, you are special because . . . .

Special Candy Game

Helps group to get to know each other and to have each member of the group think about things that are special and unique about themselves - they also find out things that they might have in common with others in the group

Methods:

• Have participants sit in a circle

• Give each person 10 pieces of candy

• Go around the circle and have each person name one thing in their life that they think is special or some talent or ability that they possess

• As each person says what they want to say, the other members of the group throw that person a piece of candy if that is not something that they have in common with that individual

Example: I say, "I can play the piano." If you can also play the piano you do nothing, but if you cannot play the piano you throw me a piece of candy

• You should try to encourage the members of the group who are having a hard time thinking of something, as there should hopefully always be something to find in a persons life that is good

• The game should hopefully end at a point where all members have the same amounts of candy again or at least where everyone has some so that no one feels left out - this up to the leader

Advertising

Introduce the group to advertisements. Talk about their purpose and the method in which ads get the message across - visually and with words. Ads promote the positive aspects of a product, the finer qualities. Ads also persuade a person into buying the product. The individual's task in this project is to come up with and advertisement persuading someone to be their friend. Individuals should depict positive aspects of themselves through pictures, words, or a combination of the two.

If an individual has a difficult time thinking of reasons someone would want to be their friend, have them think of characteristics they look for in a friend. At the end of the session have participants share advertisements with one another. Let other participants confirm the positive qualities of the presenter.

The Self-esteem Gauntlet

Form two lines with participants facing each other. Have one person walk or skip in between the two lines and "run" the gauntlet. As the person walks through the line, others pat him on the back, give them "high 5" or a hug, share kind words, or smile at them. Encourage the person to go through the gauntlet slowly and to listen to the words and gestures given to him.

Expected Outcome: good feelings about self, feeling good at giving others compliments, increased self-esteem, group cohesion.

Just The Way You Are

1. Listen to "Just The Way You Are" while patients/clients follow along with printed lyric sheet.

2. Discuss the lyrics.

3. Have each student write their name at the top of a piece of paper.

4. Pass it to the person on their right.

5. Have them write 2-3 positive comments, descriptors of the person whose paper they have.

6. Continue to pass papers until each student has their original paper back.

7. Have the student read their paper aloud.

8. Discuss.

Other suitable songs: S.Gomes "Who Says", W.Houston "Hero", Nickelblack "When We Stand Together", N.Bedingfield "Unwritten", Ch.Aguilera "Beautiful", B.Morley "Don't Worry Be Happy", Ch.James "Magnificent", T.Turner "Simply The Best"

The Compliment Game

This game is good to play when you have a group of children, especially if they tend to have a lot of personality conflicts.

• Give each child a piece of paper. Ask him or her to tear the paper into pieces -- one for each child in the group.

• On each piece of paper, he should write name, then list all of the positive characteristics he can think of about. Try to have them focus on personality traits and behaviors, not physical attributes.

• When they have completed their lists, they should put all of them into a box. One of the children in the class can read aloud all of the positive comments about each child. The children are usually very surprised at how many great things are said about them.

• If they would like, they can keep their lists in a folder or notebook. Then, when they're feeling a little down about themselves, they can read about how wonderful other people think they are, and this will help when building self-confidence.

Picturing Self-Esteem

This is something that can be tailored for children of all ages and is good for a group.

• Ask them to draw a picture of what they think self-esteem looks like or feels like.

• Encourage them to be as simple or complex as they want and set an agreed-upon time for them to do their drawing.

• When all the children are done, each one can discuss his or her own work with the others in the group.

Letter to Myself

This activity allows a child to express his feelings, thoughts and dreams to himself in a letter. Encourage him to write down several goals he wants to accomplish by the end of the school year. Save the letters and give them to him before summer break; review with him how much he was able to accomplish in just one year.

The idea of this activity is to have a child work toward a goal and realize he's a capable human being. It might be helpful to review the letters prior to the end of the school year, especially for a child struggling with self-esteem issues.

Interview Your Classmate

Break your students into groups of two. Set a timer for five to 10 minutes and have each student "interview" the other person, asking questions and getting to know her. You could develop a specific set of questions, but this usually works better if a child is given the opportunity to create the dialogue (but have the questions as icebreakers, just in case.) Pair up two opposite personalities or children who may have previously struggled to get along. Have each student present to the class a few things they learned about their classmate when time is up.

The concept of this activity is to show a child he has things in common with another person. It also helps develop and strengthen empathy and communication skills, as the child needs to listen to the other person to present information to the class.

Brochure About Me

Make a tri-fold brochure with colored paper. Each child should decorate the front of the brochure with her name. List categories on the whiteboard such as "one of my talents" or "my biggest accomplishment". Tell the students to fill in the answers to the categories on the inside of the brochure. Reassure the children that although the class will pass the brochure around, nobody will be reading what is written on the inside. Once everyone is finished, provide each child with a sticker to seal his brochure. Then students pass the brochures clockwise around the class. Each child checks the name on the front of the brochure, then writes something positive about that person on the back of the brochure. Continue passing the brochures around until everyone has written a comment about each student. Children keep the brochures for positive reinforcement.

Personal Control

Have a class discussion on Eleanor Roosevelt's statement that, "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." Ask the class to discuss if this is a true statement. Identify what ways people make themselves feel inferior. Instruct students to consider situations when other people have tried to make them feel inferior and how they handled it. Have the class list techniques people might use to prevent low self-esteem.

"About Me" Collage

This activity is a good way to focus a child's attention on those characteristics that make her special. You will need poster board, scissors, glue, photographs and old magazines.
Have the child think for a moment about good aspects of her life and personality or hopes and dreams she has. The child should then find words or pictures from magazines or photos to symbolize those things. Glue these to the poster board to make a collage. The child can draw things on the poster or add glitter glue, pipe-cleaners, clip art or anything else available. Anything the child places on the collage should focus solely on her positive traits. When it is finished, have the child explain what each thing on the poster represents and then hang it in a place where it will be seen every day. This will be a positive reminder of all the things that make the child special and unique and the reasons why the child should feel good about herself.

When I Look in the Mirror

Place small mirrors in front of all participants. Have everyone look into the mirrors. Ask him what positive things he sees in the mirror. Have the group tell the individual the positive things they see.