Fostering self-esteem is essential for students to develop full emotional intelligence. Below, we offer a selection of interesting resources, which may be useful for teachers and/or parents to promote self-esteem with their children so that they get to know themselves better, learn to love themselves, be confident people and believe in their own abilities.

Best Resources To Build Self-Esteem

What other resources do you know about to promote self-esteem?

I’m going with me

Carlota Lainez, in charge of the crowdfunding project “Yo voy conmigo” flies to the screen, reveals this story written and illustrated by Raquel Díaz Reguera and published by Thule publishing house, which poses an essential question through a short film with real characters adapted to this story: “Are we willing to change the best of our way of being to please others?

How to train your dragon

In addition to self-esteem, this animated film helps to work on other values and concepts important for the human being: perseverance, responsibility or the ability to learn from mistakes are also reflected. The film takes place in a Viking village and focuses on one of its inhabitants, the young Hiccup.

The never-ending story

German writer Michael Ende is the author of this fantasy novel which has also been brought to the big screen. It can be used to work with students on the concept of self-esteem through Bastian, its protagonist, a boy who as the story progresses undergoes a major transformation that helps him to believe in himself.

Boundin

The Pixar factory has accumulated numerous reference titles, among which is this short film to work on self-esteem from school and family. The protagonist of this piece is a small lamb that loses his self-confidence because one day he is shorn and he will start to be mocked by those around him. From here, the story teaches us that adversities can be overcome and that it does not matter what others say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1LEhmhxS0g

Activities to develop self-esteem

Depending on the age of the students, he suggests proposals that cover from 3 to 13 years old. Thus, for example, in the case of the youngest ones, self-esteem is worked on through songs or cards that they have to fill in indicating what things they know how to do or would like to learn on their own. There is also space for a story. Meanwhile, and as they get older, different dynamics for their development or a self-acceptance questionnaire are noted, among other possibilities.

Children’s game to promote the development of self-esteem: My treasure

Recommended for students from 7 years of age onwards, it not only seeks to favour the development of self-esteem, but also to strengthen security and confidence in oneself and to develop both the capacity to value and those skills for the improvement of emotional competencies. In addition to explaining what the game consists of, the necessary materials are indicated and a work sheet is suggested: in it, the children must answer questions related to their qualities, the things they are good at, what to be proud of or what others value about them

Self-esteem in adolescence

In the blog ‘El rincón educativo’ we discover an entry dedicated to self-esteem in one of the most complicated stages for students, adolescence. In addition to explaining how it is formed and can be improved, it proposes several dynamics to be put into practice in groups. Specifically, there are three games (‘The Ball of Wool’, ‘The Focus Game’ and ‘This is a Hug’) and the activities ‘Self-esteem Game’ and ‘Self-esteem Wounds’.

Self-esteem stories

Among the titles that are mentioned are: ‘The prince who wanted to change his name’, ‘A different flamenco’, ‘The lame duck’, ‘The pig who wanted to be a singer’, ‘The brave little tin soldier’… Each of them includes a small card with the age from which it is recommended and the values that can be worked on, as they can be used not only for self-esteem, but also to deal with positive attitude, self-confidence or affection.

Techniques to boost children’s self-esteem

Maite Nicuesa Guelbenzu, doctor of philosophy and expert in coaching, offers in this article a series of tips for teachers to promote self-esteem in their students, such as educating in the positive sense of curiosity, valuing the work and talent of each student individually or never allowing students to ridicule a child in class.

Dynamics for class

The Department of Education of the Valencian Community offers on its website dynamics to be carried out with students in class such as ‘The circle’, ‘Imagine yourself’, ‘I am…’ or ‘A walk in the woods’. Activities to value the positive qualities of both the child himself and the rest of his classmates, the illusion of having their own life project, the importance of achieving their own goals or that they discover their positive qualities and are able to recognize them.

I like who I am: Program to increase self-esteem (Primary Education)

Written by Antonio Vallés Arandiga, the book develops positive self-evaluation attitudes, emphasizing self-concept, self-image and self-esteem, as important aspects to pay attention to in educational programs to achieve better personal and social development in the lives of students. Number of pages: 128. Publisher: Promolibro. Price: 11 euros.

Short children’s stories

The website has a collection of short children’s stories aimed at strengthening the self-esteem of the youngest members of the family, such as ‘The Star and the Crab’, which deals with the value that each of us has in the world, or ‘The Magic Flute’, which uses music to solve the problems faced by the protagonists.

Strategies to improve your students’ self-esteem

The Andújar Orienteering blog offers this video on its Youtube channel in order to increase the self-esteem of children and young people. For Azucena Caballero, author of Pedagogía Blanca, the key to maintaining a healthy and high self-esteem is self-knowledge, self-confidence, empathy and emotional intelligence, qualities that make us better, more creative and thus happier.

Children’s guide

It offers 3 games to increase the self-esteem of the little ones: the symbolic game, the cast of stars and the hidden treasure box. In all of them, children and their characteristics are the main characters, thus learning to value themselves and to respect and value the differences of others.

The art of educating

In this blog we find a list of activities and children’s stories to develop a good self-esteem in children. Games like the magic box or bowling are some of the options that Cely Cota, child educator and author of the site, shows us.

School in the cloud

It has a catalogue of advice to help improve the self-esteem of the little ones. The list consists of 10 ways to provide them with security such as the need for physical contact, respect or visibility. In each of these tips or guidelines it is explained how to carry it out and why it is beneficial.

Association of Mothers and Fathers of Children with ADHD in Granada

This organization has prepared a PDF list that explains a series of games and activities to do with children that help build self-esteem, happiness, fight sadness, forget anger and overcome fears. In each one of them they explain how to carry it out, which facets it improves and why.

Goldi, a different princess

This online story tells the story of Goldi, a chubby princess who revolutionizes the world of fantasy. This story works on the acceptance of one’s physique and that of others while teaching values such as courage, originality and eliminating stereotypes.

Self-esteem, how to develop it?

Jean R. Feldman is the author of this book edited by Narcea in which she offers nearly 200 activities to help children feel good about themselves, make friends, treat others with sensitivity, celebrate diversity and embrace change. In addition to being fun for students, they provide opportunities to reinforce academic performance. Each activity covers three points: building self-esteem from the head, inspiring from the heart, and hands-on projects through very creative and easy-to-do activities that are accompanied by explanations.