For further information, refer to the

following resources:

HealthLink BC Resources: Several
documents that provide information and
recommendations to improve studens self-
esteem.
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/conten
t.asp?hwid=ug5131

http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/conten
t.asp?hwid=tk1326

http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/conten
t.asp?hwid=tk1326

Take It EASY: Program designed by Boys
& Girls Clubs of Canada, addresses topcis such
as self-esteem, body image, and gender issues.
Its program guide for staff offers many tips and
activities that can easily be adapted by parents.
https://www.bgccan.com/en/ClubsPrograms/Pr
ograms-National/Pages/Take-it-EASY.aspx


Self-esteem is ones sense of
worthiness, value, and pride he/she has about
themselves. People with high self-esteem respect
themselves and the abilities they possess, and
appear to be confident and optimistic.

Some factors that affect teenagers self-esteem
include their body image, social interactions,
academic performances, media, and their
relationships with their parents.

A study conducted on Canadian adolescents
suggests that there is a significant decrease in
youths level of self-esteem around the age of 16.
Although self-esteem is restored in their early
20s for most youth, adolescents who do not
experience this are reported to be more
susceptible to social phobia, eating disorders,
depression, alcohol/drug abuse, along with other
serious medical complications.

This is exactly why parents and teachers,
perhaps the most influential role models in a
youths life, should care. Through this brochure, I
hope to deepen your understanding of your
youths self-esteem and offer you some effective
intervention strategies to ensure that your child is
in his/her best state of mind for learning. This
brochure is my promise as a teacher that I will,
too, do my best in my classroom.

Together, we can make a lasting
impact on your childs life.

2
Building
Your Childs
Self-Esteem:
What, Why, and How

Hailey Kim

1














Parent & Teacher
Recommendations

Misconceptions Surrounding
Self-Esteem
Men have more self-esteem than women.
Truth: Studies show that male and female adolescents
exhibit comparable levels of self-esteem, which
fluctuates in simillar patterns through different stages
of life. Because of this misconception that persists in
todays society, however, mens self-esteem related
issues are often overlooked.

Students who are smart, attractive, and
outgoing have high self-esteem, so there
is no need to worry about them.
Truth: Self-esteem is not about possessing the
characteristics that are admired by other people. It is
more about the inner belief system that one has
about their life and themselves, which does not
always visible. Therefore, one can never assume an
individuals level of self-esteem simply by looking at
how they appear to be.

People are born with a certain level of
self-esteem, and it cannot be changed.
Truth: This is simply untrue. Just as we learn how to
walk or talk after we are born, having a positive
outlook of life and themselves can be learned.
Similarly, a high level of self-esteem will last forever if
practices to build confidence are not maintained.

So what can be done?

Here are some strategies that are suggested by
HealthLink BC and other accredited sources for
parents who wish to build their childs self-esteem. My
goal is to adapt these into my classrooms for the
maximum effectiveness. These strategies will also
positively affect his/her confidence in mastering new
skills and growth into a responsible adult.
1. Have your child have a say in setting
household (classroom) rules.
Acknowledge the fact that your child is transitioning
into a young adult, which gives them a sense of
accountability and obligations. They will also feel like an
essential part of the community, boosting their self-
worthiness.

2. Provide support when your child goes
through failures or hardships.
Even though facing failures is a natural part of life, these
are the times when your child may feel especially
vulnerable to negative emotions. Ask your child to
reflect on the problem to figure out what could be
done next time they face a similar situation, and
remind him/her that you still love and care about
him/her. Realizing that they are capable of being loved
is a critical part of building youths self-esteem.
3. Provide positive comments and
praises when appropriate.
Positive affirmations and praises can give your child a
sense of accomplishment and capability, which often
motivates him/her to learn new skills. Simple and
subtle comments such as I knew you could do it!
that praises the students strength and performance
can make be a catalyst for students learning and
effort. Parents and teachers should note that praises
can become meaningless if given too often. Instead,
provide sincere and personal comments.

4. Have reasonable expectations of your
childs behaviour and performances.
Setting the bar unreasonably too high for your child
may result him/her experiencing failure too
frequently or easily. Make sure to set expectations
within or slightly out of the students abilities.
Otherwise, the student may feel discouraged to put
any further effort, and feel incapable of meeting
expectations of his/her parents or teachers.

On top of these strategies, I will follow students IEPs
to best of my abilities to ensure that they can
perform without any limitations. Please refer to
HealthLink BC resources that is listed on back of this
brochure for tips that have not been stated but are
equally as important.

Thank you, and feel free to contact me any time for
any questions, comments, and concerns.


References
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. Take It Easy. November 2012. Retrieved from http://www.bgccan.com/en/ClubsPrograms/Programs-
National/Documents/Take%20It%20EASY%20manual_5th%20Edition.pdf

Erol, Ruth Y., & Orth, Ulrich. Self-Esteem Development From Age 14 to 30 Years: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology. 101.3 (2011). 607-619. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp-101-3-607.pdf

HealthLink BC. Bullying Self-Esteem. 11 March 2013. Retrieved from http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/content.asp?hwid=uf4898

HealthLink BC. Growth and Development: Helping Your Child Build Self-Esteem. 11 June 2012. Retrieved from
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/content.asp?hwid=tk1326

HealthLink BC. Self-Esteem, Ages 6 to 10. 17 January 2012. Retrieved from
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/content.asp?hwid=te6265cana

Kling, Kristen C., Hyde, Janet S., Showers, Carolin J., & Buswell Brenda N. Gender Differences in Self-Esteem: A Meta-Analysis.
Psychological Bulletin. 125.4 (1999). 470-500. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10414226

Roberts, Emily. Common Myths About Self-Confidence. Healthy Place. 25 July 2012. Retrieved from
http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/buildingselfesteem/2012/07/myths-about-self-confidence/

Self Esteem. n.d. Web. 17 July 2014. < http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/hr/hrdepts/asap/Documents/Self_esteem.pdf>

Sources of Images Used
Jumping image
http://mindessence.com.au/?page_id=117
Positivity image
http://dingo.care2.com/pictures/greenliving/1019/1018015.large.jpg
True/false image
http://www.techsling.com/2013/07/common-it-misconceptions-and-how-to-avoid-them/
Cooperation image
http://www.eurac.edu/EntryBlob.customhandler?NewsID=113601&blackWhite=False&isImage=true&fullsize=false&imageMode=2&topic
id=5