What builds self-esteem and why is it important? Self-esteem is more likely the reason that little kid sports give everyone a trophy and that teachers do not want to fail students.
Self-esteem and self-worth go hand-in-hand. Self-esteem is how a person values himself/herself. It may change from time to time but is generally developed from infancy and carries into adulthood. Having self-esteem helps people to try new things and make new friends.
The self-esteem movement first began in the late 1800s with William James. James states “the more success we have and the lower our expectations or pretensions then the higher our self-esteem. To raise self-esteem, we have two options: lower our expectations of ourselves or increase our achievements.” James’ work was later ignored and resurfaced about forty years ago. According to Dr. Jean Twenge, it builds narcissism instead.
Almost everything a person does is the result of self-esteem. It affects activities both in and out of school, as well as a student’s academic progress. If the child or student has low self-esteem, it plays a significant role in the desire to learn. Students and children with low self-esteem communicate negative statements in how they act and feel. Low self-esteem people are overly dependent and have a great need for acceptance. They tend to be defensive when questioned and have a difficult time facing challenges.
Self-esteem may be developed every day through genuine praise and appreciation of what a child or student does. Teachers and guardians play an important role in fostering self-esteem through their actions and their communication methods.
Students with high self-esteem display a confidence in how they act and feel. They approach new situations positively and accept responsibility. Students and children who know their capabilities feel confident and are able to handle conflicts and negative pressures.
Communication is a key in developing self-esteem. The words ‘you did it’, ‘I like the detail on that’, or ‘I can see that you took you time when you did this project’ is a better way to communicate a positive message than the words ‘good job’.
Having a healthy self-esteem is the best defense against the challenges of today’s society. Self-esteem is built from achievement, not affirmation. Self-esteem cannot be taught, it must be developed through encouragement and support by showing appreciation for the things done well. It’s imperative that children engage in the problem solving process. They need to think of more than one solution to a situation or a problem; therefore, feeling the success of finding an answer without an adult telling them.
