Self-Esteem, Perfectionism & Body Image

When children take criticism very personally

When children take criticism very personally

What it can look like Children who take criticism very personally may react immediately or several hours later. The response can include crying, arguing, hiding, refusing to continue an activity, saying “I am the worst,” or repeatedly asking whether a parent, teacher, or coach is angry. Some children become highly compliant because they are afraid […]

Helping a child who is afraid to disappoint adults

Helping a child who is afraid to disappoint adults

Recognize what the fear may look like Children do not always say, “I am afraid you will be disappointed in me.” Instead, the concern may emerge through behavior. A child may spend an excessive amount of time checking homework, refuse to submit work unless it is flawless, become tearful after a small error, or ask […]

Fear of making mistakes in children

Fear of making mistakes in children

What fear of making mistakes can look like Children may fear mistakes because they anticipate embarrassment, criticism, disappointing an adult, losing approval, or proving that they are incapable. The feared consequence may be social, academic, athletic, or internal: some children are distressed mainly by other people’s reactions, whereas others experience intense self-criticism even when nobody […]

Strengthening child confidence

Strengthening child confidence

What child confidence really is Child confidence is a developing belief in one’s ability to cope, learn, and stay connected to others even when something is hard. It overlaps with self-efficacy, which is the expectation that effort can lead to a result, and with self-worth, which is the sense of being fundamentally acceptable. A confident […]

Helping child feel confident

Helping child feel confident

Understand What Confidence Means Confidence is a child’s developing belief that they can approach an activity, cope with difficulty, learn from feedback, or ask for help. Self-esteem is broader: it concerns the child’s sense of personal worth and belonging. These qualities overlap but are not identical. A child may feel confident drawing but insecure in […]

Why self esteem matters children

Why self esteem matters children

What self-esteem means in childhood Self-esteem is a global evaluation of the self, while self-concept is the broader collection of beliefs a child has about abilities, characteristics, relationships, and identity. These ideas overlap but are not identical. A child may believe they are good at mathematics yet still feel generally unworthy, or they may struggle […]