Activities For Kids to Build Self-Esteem

Activities For Kids to Build Self-Esteem

One of the reasons that low self-esteem exists on such a large scale is that there is relatively little emphasis on the subject in early education.

Children are only briefly educated about self-esteem concepts in school. They learn about the general concepts and a little more.

Children who learn to build self-esteem from an early age may have a better chance of avoiding some of the related issues that develop in conjunction with low self-esteem.

Self-esteem activities for kids can assist them in developing the skills needed to face the challenges ahead.

Children must learn that things do not always go the way we want them to, but staying positive and pushing forward can help us achieve other great things.

Here are some great self-esteem activities for kids. Use these activities to get involved in the process of building your child’s self-esteem.

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1. Let them participate. Often, children just want to help you do whatever you are doing. We get so busy and rushed that we often tell them to “go play.” Try letting them help from time to time. It’s a great boost for them to be involved in adult activities.
2. Take small vacations. Vacations do not have to be expensive or long. Take the kids to the woods, the mountains, a pond, a park, the museum or any other place of interest for a couple of hours. Teach them about the things they see.
3. Put motivational quotes in highly visible places in their room. Posters and banners work well for this.
4. Joke around with them. Teach them the power and value of humor. It is ok to be goofy and make them laugh. Laughter is one of the most powerful positive tools that we have.
5. Give them responsibilities. Let them do some things that you normally do for them. For instance, some children are able to make their own breakfast or lunch.
6. Give them chores. Yes, Chores are a good thing. Chores will teach children the concepts of responsibility and work. Reward them by allowing them to do activities that they enjoy once the work is done.
7. Work outside in the yard. Next time you go outside to work in the garden, let your children join you. Teach them about plants and gardening as you go.
8. Cook. Cooking is one of those activities that remain a mystery to most children. Given the dangerous nature of the stove, we usually keep the kids away. Occasionally, let them participate and teach them about cooking. They love to get involved and learn how mom and dad do things.
9. Read a book. At some ages, kids like to hear stories other than the ones they usually hear in children’s books. Try some of the classic novels. Often, there are great morals to be found in the classics. You can read a chapter or two each day or at night before they go to bed.
10. Get creative. Children love to create. Activities like finger painting, building blocks, drawing, arts and crafts, or other activities allow them to explore their creative talents.
11. Participate in sports and games. Getting them involved in sports early is a great way to introduce kids to the team mentality while providing much-needed exercise. There are also sports that you can play at home. Throw a ball, play tag, hide and seek or even board games are excellent ways to have fun and get children involved. Some games help them learn about winning, losing, and competitiveness as well.
12. Play music and inspire them to dance around and go wild. Dancing is one of those things that many confident adults are afraid to do in front of others. Getting kids comfortable with this form of expression early is very helpful for building their confidence and self-esteem. This also provides exercise and gives you (the adult) an excuse to dance and go a little crazy too. Enjoy yourself. When your child sees you having fun, it will enhance the experience even more.
13. Give praise in excess. Kids need positive reinforcement. Consistent praise works well to make them feel good about themselves. Let them know how good they are at certain tasks. Let them hear that you believe they are smart, able, and worthwhile people.

There are many things that you can do with your children to help build their self-esteem. The activities listed above are only a fraction of the possibilities that exist. Use your imagination, and you can probably come up with many of your own. Just remember, anything that gets them involved and allows them to be active and spend time with you in a positive environment is a winner.

Even if you are just sitting and talking with them on a regular basis, you are helping to build their self-esteem. Often, we are stressed or hurried and we fail to listen to our children as they ramble on about their favorite cartoon character. Take some time and actually listen from time to time. Give them some feedback and show some interest in what they are saying. They will love it.

Ask your children what they would enjoy. Take a day and let them lead the way. Do whatever they want (within reason) and let them think about all sorts of options. Make suggestions but let them decide on their own. If you encounter any dilemmas, explain the situation to them and let them think of solutions to the problem.

This develops creative thought, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. Imagine how these skills will benefit them later in life when they are adults. Get children started off on the right foot as early as possible. Set the tone for a well-adjusted, positive and productive life.