Child Development: Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness

Study Notes

Self-esteem is how a child feels about themselves, specifically how much they value themselves and believe in their abilities.
High self-esteem in children is seen when they feel worthy and believe they can do things well.
Low self-esteem might cause a child to doubt their importance and capabilities.
Self-esteem is part of self-concept, but focuses more on how much children value themselves.

Self-awareness is knowing your own feelings, desires, and actions.
It's being aware of what you're feeling and why you might be feeling that way.
Self-esteem, on the other hand, is about how you judge and value yourself based on those feelings and actions.

Positive self-esteem influences how children see themselves and their willingness to try new things.
Children with high self-esteem are more likely to participate actively in class, face new challenges bravely, and keep trying even when things are tough.

Interactions with family members greatly impact a child's self-esteem.
Positive constructive feedback from teachers and caregivers helps children develop a sense of capability and accomplishment.
Peer interactions, such as making friends and playing cooperatively, enhance a child's feelings of social competence and acceptance.
Experiences of success and failure also play a significant role in the development of self-esteem.
The broader cultural and societal context can affect a child's self-esteem.

Self-expression in early childhood refers to the ways young children communicate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas to the world around them.
Encouraging self-expression helps children understand themselves better and allows them to share their unique perspectives with others.
It plays a crucial role in their emotional development, helping them to process their feelings and build confidence in their ability to communicate.

Verbal expression: using language to tell others what they need, want, and feel.
Choice making: making decisions, such as what to play, what to wear, or which book to read.
Artistic activities: art, drawing, painting, and crafting.
Play: especially pretend play, which helps children try out different roles and situations.
Physical expression: dancing, moving, and other physical activities.

Encourage art and creativity, providing diverse materials and opportunities for creative activities.
Foster a safe environment where children feel safe to express their ideas and feelings without judgment.
Enable choice, allowing children to make decisions about their activities.
Use open-ended questions to encourage children to think and express themselves more fully.
Model expressive behavior, showing children how to express their emotions and ideas.

Materials support self-expression, allowing children to produce new understandings as they explore and discover.
The more experiences children have with different materials, the more skillful they become in expressing and communicating ideas.
Materials can lead to completely different forms of expression, depending on the child and the time of day.

Dialogue alongside creative and expressive work is important, as it supports the child's expression and communication.
Adults can support children's self-expression by watching and noticing what they do, and then adding a narration or dialogue to support their actions.