Understanding Authentic Self Esteem

Authentic self-esteem - positive, healthy, confident, and balanced- provides a secure foundation for [a young child's] further growth and development.

-Marian C. Marion, Guidance of Young Children (Marion, 2015, p.185)

As you have been learning, important adults in a young child's life have a powerful influence on shaping the child's self-esteem. Negative messages from adults can have a negative impact on a child's self-esteem. However, helping a child develop authentic self-esteem requires more than an overload of positive feedback and interactions. Early childhood professionals working with preschool-age children and their families have a key role in helping parents and other significant adults understand how best to help a child develop authentic self-esteem.

Review "Practices That Help Children Develop Authentic Self-Esteem," pages 197-202 in the course text. Then think about how you would apply the information and practices in each of the following scenarios:

You are talking to a parent who thinks that, in order to have positive self-esteem, his child has to be good at everything. He never pushes his child to do anything that might be a challenge.

You notice that a preschooler's grandmother who volunteers in your program responds to her own grandchild and other children with "That's great!" no matter what a child does. When you mention that she uses the phrase a lot, she responds enthusiastically that she knows praise is essential to give children positive self-esteem.

You are speaking to the parents of a preschooler who seems to be a natural athlete but who makes fun of other children who can't run as fast as she can. The parents explain that they want their child to know she is the best and better than other children in sports "so she'll grow up with a healthy self-esteem."

Then, post a response based on the following:

Choose one scenario and explain how you would respond to the adult(s).

Describe two ideas or strategies that you would suggest for helping the child develop authentic self-esteem.

Explain insights you have gained about authentic self-esteem and assumptions or misconceptions that were corrected.
Resources to Use:

Course Text: Marion, M. (2015). Guidance of young children (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 7, "Self-Esteem and the Moral Self" (pp. 181-206)
Chapter 8, "Feelings and Friends: Emotional and Social Competence" (pp. 207-237)
Chapter 9, "Resilience and Stress in Childhood" (pp. 238-265)
Optional Resources

Podcast: "Genuine v. Phony Self-Esteem"
http://www.jackstreet.com/jackstreet/WMBK.Greenspan.cfm

Article: "Stress and Children: What it is and How Parents Can Help" (PDF)
http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/stress_children_what_it_how_parents_can_help
(Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean)

Note: To open the document on this site, you will need the free Adobe® Reader® software. The link to download this software is located in the Tech Resources area.

Web Site: ACT: Adults and Children Together Against Violence
"Managing Anger at Home"
http://actagainstviolence.apa.org/anger/athome.html

"Managing Anger at the ChildCare Center & School"
http://actagainstviolence.apa.org/anger/atschool.html

Article: "Study: Verbal Aggression May Affect Children's Behavior"
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/08/04/study.verbal.aggression.may.affect.childrens.behavior