Children who have warm, supportive adults are more likely to develop high self-esteem. High self-esteem means feeling good about yourself. Children with high self-esteem do better in school and in life. They relate better to other people, are more willing to try new things, and handle challenges and failures more easily.
Child care providers can do a lot to promote children's self-esteem. If you want children to develop high self-esteem, let them know what's good about them. Tell each child that he/she is important to you. Share lots of hugs, kisses, and smiles. Give each child some of your undivided attention each day, and really listen to what they are saying. Be specific in your praise. Saying "I like the nice way you are petting the kitty" or "Look at how well you stack those blocks!" is more effective than saying "You're such a good kid."
When children in your child care program misbehave, you can correct them in a way that won't hurt their self-esteem. Don't yell or tell children they are "bad." Instead, say "I get mad when you...." When children misbehave, help them understand that there are consequences to the misbehavior. Be fair and consistent; teach children to make good choices.
For more information about how to support social-emotional development in child care, check out the Better Kid Care America section on Feeling and Relating to Others.
