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Factors That Shape A Child's Self-Concept
Factors That Shape A Child's Self-Concept
Factors That Shape A Child's Self-Concept
● Children’s inherent temperament plays a major role in their emotional reaction to outside
influences during their early development; infancy, toddlerhood and preschool years.
● Parents’ affectionate caring response to child’s needs builds trust and fosters self
regulation in the child.
● Toddlers’ interpersonal interaction with people in their environment has an impact on their
self-concept; a crucial facet of personality development.
Influence of significant others
With ongoing child growth and achieved developmental milestones, children’s environment expands
outside their home
Gradually the values projected by peers and significant others in the circle gain their admiration,
which affects their self-concept.
Some children take the remarks of others in their stride, whereas others get bogged down by them.
Parents’ unfaltering support and trust in their children’s beliefs and abilities help them through the
psycho social turmoils of childhood development by enhancing positive aspect of their temperament
and subduing their negativity.
Parents’ role
Positive parenting practices boost positive traits of children's temperament and thereby
their self image. Parents can certainly not control all the external influences on children’s
self image, nor can there be prescribed regimes to prevent dampening of children’s spirit.
Children need constant supervision without being oppressive and constant care without
being repressive. They need freedom to let their creativity flourish and unconditional love
to nurture under emotional stability.
Need to change adult attitude towards children
Most of the time, children are perceived as a bundle of mistakes with behavior issues and
learning inadequacies. Childhood development is a physiological phase of ambivalence; and the
common adult attitude further jars children's self confidence.
Moreover, many adults misuse their authority over children: Children are soft targets to adult
frustrations. Child abuse is of different grades and has several forms. Traumatic childhood
experiences mar affected children’s psycho social development. Their self-concept is blemished
for life and achievements deterred.
Children need to be perceived as individuals in their own right rather than as possession; strong
and full of potentials rather than as weak and needy.
Strengthening Children’s Self-Concept
Unconditional love
Make children feel wanted and truly loved: Children can sense pretense.
Genuinely enjoy being with them and be attentive to their individual needs.
It is proved that by 6 years of age the major personality characteristics of a child are formed. This also
makes me wonder if sending children into the outside world before 6 is wise.
Acknowledge identity
Allow children to have a say, an opinion and liberty to express anxiety; it not only boosts their
self concept but also gives you a peep into their inner thoughts.
Children's fears and anxiety may be hidden in their play, drawings or talks. Being attentive to
their expressions can help us understand children's true feelings about themselves and the
significant others in their environment: The knowledge that enables us to provide children with
the necessary support for their self-concept.
Talk only when you must
This is something that adults commonly tell children, but seldom practice it with them:
● Disturb only if you can add to child's excitement, but not to interrupt.
● Do not ask questions unless sincerely puzzle, but not to boss around.
● Vocalize genuine praise for meaningful feedback, but not for flattery.
Affirm good behavior and don’t be ashamed of negative traits
Guide children towards right path: Path can not be right just because we advocate it; children need
explanation for it.
Sweeping judgmental statements such as ; you are a bad child. I am fed up of you and so on, are
hurtful. They are injurious to child's self-concept.
However, Nobody can be successful all the time. Therefore, it is very important to reinforce that it’s
OK to be unsuccessful now and then; there is always a second chance.
Liberty to stand on their own feet
● Give them enough opportunities to make independent decision and then respect their decision.
● The pleasure of meeting challenges successfully is boundless; let children too enjoy it.
● Indeed, be there for them when they need you, but over protection hampers children’s development and
injures their self image.
Be impartial
Favoritism is as deleterious for psycho social development of the favored as for the children who are unable to
win the favor of significant somebody in their environment.
Don't hold pretense in front of children; accept if you don't know. Let children know that no one is all
knowledgeable and every one is learning.
Our genuineness will give children the strength to face the realities and strive to for betterment
without lapsing in to poor self concept.
Clash in expectations of significant others in child's environment and the peers confuse child’s self-
concept.
From middle childhood on wards peer recognition holds strong in determining children’s self-concept.
Parents and teachers usually value academic achievements and good social behavior,
whereas peers often value physical appearance, social popularity, and athletic expertise.