Self Esteem & Moral Identity

Self-Esteem is a life long process that starts in infancy; it develops in a social context and adults influence a child’s self esteem

Moral Identity governs what a child thinks is the right thing to do and determines why a child should take a specific action (children need a strong moral compass)

Parts of the “Self” (PG.155)
Self awareness
Self concept
Self control
Self esteem

Building Blocks of Self Esteem:

1. Competence
2. Control
3. Worth

Practices That Help Children Develop Authentic Self-Esteem:

- Believe in & adopt an authoritative caregiving style
- Plan activities that are deserving of children’s time
- Express genuine interest in children & their activities
- Give meaningful feedback to children
- Acknowledge both pleasant & unpleasant feelings
- Demonstrate respect for all family groups & cultures
- Teach specific social skills

Practices Likely to Contribute to Unhealthy Self Esteem:

- Child abuse or harsh discipline
- Failure to emphasize self-responsibility
- Unhelpful, overly critical, negative communication
- Denying unpleasant feelings
- Ignoring children or spending time grudgingly
- Acting in a judgmental or sexist way or showing contempt for some families or cultural groups