Building Your Child's Confidence through Fitness Activities

What is Self Esteem?

Self-esteem: the belief that one has value and self-worth which is linked to:

• Having a stock of positive feelings that are a valuable resource for lots of conditions, resilience (bounce back and better);
• Being a happier person and a readiness to feel good;
• Having the ability to create relationships and speak up in groups;
• Willing to try new endeavors when things aren't working.

Confidence or Self-efficacy: the belief that one has the capability to initiate or sustain a desired behavior; I can do....

Why is Self-Esteem Important?

Good self-esteem is important because:

• It affects how children feel;
• Children can hold their head high to feel proud of what they can do;
• It will give children the courage to try new things;
• Children can find the power to believe in themselves;
• Children need to respect themselves even when they make mistakes;
• Children will make good/healthy choices about their mind and body;
• Children will value their own safety, feelings, health...their whole self and they are worth caring for and protecting.

When you respect yourself, adults & other kids will usually respect you!

How Do Your Children Get Self-Esteem?

Good Self-esteem comes from:

• Encouraging words from an important adult (good job, good for you etc.);
• Taking good care of a baby or child = I value and respect you (safety, validation, protection);
• Honoring your child by letting him/her use their words at their own pace;
• Simply listening and then asking a "how or what" question about what they said;
• Noticing and telling your child what their good/strong/positive qualities are;
• Having your child tell you what they are good at;
• Knowing when your child does something and the task doesn't turn out well, encourage them to try again, ask what they could change and try again;
• Knowing it is okay to not get something right, so try again.

How to Help Self-esteem and Confidence Shine!

• Let your child know they are worth a lot;
• Make a list of things they are good at;
• Add to the list and include things they would like to be good at;
• Give your child three compliments every day;
• Remember your child's body is their own no matter what shape, size or color;
• Teach your child the things they can change about themselves and the things they cannot;
• Help your child notice when the voice in their head is saying discouraging things, they need to tell it stop;
• Focus on your child's strengths and the good/positive things they do.

My Action Plan for next week is:

I will:_______________________________________________

I will also:____________________________________________

I will e-mail Jamie in one week and let her know what my successes have been. mailto:Jamie@personaleffectivenesscoach.com