Children need to develop positive self-esteem to feel good about whom they are. We know that young children gain confidence as they accomplish difficult tasks. As they work through the stages of development, new challenges and tasks present themselves every day. Confidence is built as children learn to tie their own shoes, spell their names, or complete a puzzle.
Self-confidence is fostered at Crème by providing children challenging activities that they can master and giving them real decisions and choices about their learning.
One of the ways we do that is by offering different interest areas throughout the classroom. In each of these areas is a variety of materials and activities. In the Primary Classroom for example, children can choose the area they would like to play in and the materials they would like to play with. They might choose to paint at the easel or put a puzzle together. When they play in the block area they may choose to build a tower with the blocks or create a road to drive a toy car along. Through this freedom, they begin to understand that their decisions have value.
As a parent you can be a partner in building your child’s self-esteem. Giving your child responsibilities at home and increasing the responsibilities with age help to build a child’s self-esteem. Encouraging a child by giving specific feedback is also effective. An acknowledgement of a job well done - for example, “I’ve notice you carefully folded all of your socks and put them away” – has more meaning to a child than a quick, general “Good job.”
Early childhood expert Lillian Katz reminds us that esteem is conveyed to children when adults treat them with respect. We respect children when we ask them for their views and preferences and when we provide opportunities for real decisions and choices about those things that matter to them.
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INFANT ACTIVITY
Giggle Time
Laughing is contagious and makes you feel good. Make funny faces at your child and try to make her laugh. Make funny noises with your lips and see her smile get bigger. See if you can coax her into a giggle or even a full blown belly laugh.
TODDLER ACTIVITY
Silly Plate Faces
Cut different facial parts (i.e., eyes, nose, mouth, chin, ears, eyebrows, and mustache) out of a magazine and let your child arrange them on a paper plate. Mix and match the features to make silly faces. Extend the activity by talking about happy, sad, and angry faces to make.
PRESCHOOL ACTIVITY
Compliments Galore!
Explain that a compliment is a nice thing to say to someone to let them know what we like about them. Create a compliment list that you can add to for your child. You might like to place this list in a prominent location so others can see what your child has been complimented on too. Children who hear compliments feel valued and respected. Some starters might be: “You can really kick that ball far!” or “I like the way you were gentle with your baby bother.”
SCHOOL-AGE ACTIVITY
Reach for the Stars
Work with your child to set goals. The goals could be for homework, physical fitness, chores at home, books read in a certain period of time, etc. It’s fun to see your child’s progress by charting his accomplishments. Talk about privileges or prizes that can be earned as your child successfully accomplishes each goal.
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LAUGHTER, THE BEST MEDICINE
We’ve known for a number of years that laughter is good for us. When we laugh, serotonin is released in our brains. When we laugh, we fell less stressed and more relaxed, and our immune systems are strengthened, allowing us to fight diseases better. Laughter also connects us with others and makes us feel more comfortable and a part of the group. And you might have noticed that laughter seems to be contagious – when we’re around others who are laughing, we’re apt to laugh too.
You can get the contagious laughter started in your family by reading funny books and singing funny songs. Dr. Seuss was a master at writing funny books. Shel Silverstein perfected funny, laugh-out-loud poems in A Light in the Attic and other books. Common songs such as “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” help everyone lighten up. Ask your child’s teacher to share the songs, finger plays and poems he/she is learning in class.
In addition to funny books, jokes and riddles, funny movies, cartoons and comedians, friends and family members, and pets can make you laugh. Take the quiz below to determine your family’s fun quotient:
Family Fun Quiz
- Is there a comic strip in the newspaper that makes you think of your family?
- Do you remember a time when you couldn’t stop laughing?
- What’s your favorite rough and tumble game?
- Do you use humor to make tense moments less stressful?
- Are birthdays and other family celebrations fun?
- What’s your favorite funny pet story?
- Have you played the game, “I love you more than…..”?
- Do you take time to ask “Who’s there?” to knock-knock jokes?
- Have you created a special hug, handshake, or sign of affection?
- When have you seen a funny movie together?
- Can you tell a funny story about each family member?
- Is a little slapstick a frequent occurrence?
- Do you read humorous books or the comics together?
- Do you know at least two riddles or jokes that bring on smiles and giggles?
Joke: Why are Teddy Bears never hungry?
Answer: Because they are always stuffed.
ASK THE EXPERT (JODY Martin)
Question: My child is shy and afraid to join other children when I drop her off at Crème in the morning. It breaks my heart to think that she is not playing with her classmates. What can I do to help her be more confident?
Dear Parent,
Children today are beginning earlier in social situations, and they are spending more time with peers than they used to. While some children easily join a group at play, others have difficulty. If your child is having a hard time forming friendships at school she might benefit from one-on-one time with one of the other children outside of the early childhood setting. Playing together a few times outside of school often gives two children a level of comfort with each other that carries over to their time at school.
Reviewing all the fun things your child did at school that day and preparing her ahead of time for the fun she will have the next day sometimes eases the anxiety. You can also model for your child appropriate, friendly behavior in social situations. Children learn appropriate behaviors best by observing how significant adults in their lives interact with others.
In addition, you can help her feel more confident by allowing her to make choices and solve problems on her own before stepping in. Be specific in your praise or encouragement of her accomplishments for example “You placed your toys neatly on the shelf” instead of “Good job cleaning up.”
Lastly, give your child time to warm up to the other children. Your Crème teacher will continue to try to help your child join a group after you have left. Some children want to observe and assess the situation before they dive right in and this is something we are happy to work on with your child.
Please feel free to visit Crème de la Crème Pre School at CremeDeLaCreme.com or call 800 374 5715 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800 374 5715 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to set up a tour today!
Other Crème de la Crème pre schools, childcares and daycares can be found in:
Greenwood Village CO, Buckhead Atlanta GA, Nesbit Ferry Alpharetta GA, Marietta East Cobb GA, Haynes Bridge Alpharetta GA, Peachtree Corners Norcross GA, Sugarloaf Duluth GA, Warrenville IL, Westmont IL, Glenview IL, Romeoville IL, South Barrington IL, Lincoln Park Chicago IL, Leawood KS, Mt. Laurel NJ, Bridgewater NJ, Mason OH, Allen TX, Colleyville TX, Coppell TX, Frisco TX, Plano TX, Sterling VA and Woodbridge VA.
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