Good self-esteem is what makes us feeling proud, happy or content with ourselves. It’s a psychological concept that makes us feel like we are worthy and valued by others. It’s also a psychological concept that allows us to create healthy lives, healthy friends and healthy relationships as we grow older. Self-esteem, like confidence, gives us the ability to want to try new things even if we fail; we want to try again and again until we accomplish the task at hand. Without good self-esteem we will always have an uphill battle in life and with ourselves. So how does one teach self-esteem? Honestly, it’s about adopting a positive outlook on life no matter how difficult it is, acceptance in life and as a person, praise, love and risk taking just to name a few ingredients. Below we will be going over a few key ingredients to help your child have self-esteem.
Help Beyond School
Of course it’s awesome when a top New Jersey teacher can help your special needs child with self-esteem. But, this isn’t just a school thing. This is a forever life thing. If they are old enough, consider letting them look for a job. Find out what things they are really good at and find an employer that would specifically want or could use those special abilities. For example, if they have positive traits like showing up early, turning their work in on time or they are good at relegating duties, these are things an employer might be looking for in an employee. Or perhaps you can look at more precise traits. Are they good at greeting people and making them feel welcome? Maybe a job as a door greeter or hostess would be a good job. Do they type fast, listen to directions well and pay attention to details? Maybe they would be best suited for a data typing job.
Encourage Their Effort
When someone is learning something new, an adult or a child, it’s difficult sometimes. It’s important that you explain to children though that just because they are struggling with it, is not because they have a disability, learning or otherwise. This lets them feel assured and not different or that there is something wrong with them just because they learn things or “get” things a little slower than everyone else. This is a really great way to teach self-esteem and to tackle it head on. Make sure that if you are a teacher or a parent and you see them accomplishing a task at hand, that you do praise them – this will heighten their self-esteem and self-awareness. In some cases, the more difficult the task, the better the boost they get from attaining that goal.
Patients versus Rejoicing
If you are the teacher of a special needs student or a parent, many of the tasks that a special need child will try to do can be frustrating and cause you to be impatient. But, try to remember to be as patient as you can with the things they have a hard time doing, as well as rejoice and praise when they completely things or complete a specific task. Help your child or student by telling them and helping them understand that not everyone knows how to do everything – it’s just a fact of life. Every person has their own things they are great at, not so great at, and that they try at and might fail at and that’s okay. Make sure you help them find their strengths, as well as their weaknesses.
Sometimes 2 is Better than 1
When possible, try to enroll students or children of your own into camps or classes that will lead them outdoors. Believe it or not, exploring outside their comfort zone is sometimes a good thing. Allow them to build their self-esteem by exploring the world around them, as well as give them a chance to work with a group of children – not only will this help them work in groups with other kids, but it will let them see that not every problem is a 1 person problem, sometimes it takes 2 or more people to solve it.
Shari Duddy - How to Be A Teacher 