Social Self-Esteem 02.1

02.01
Social self-esteem: Children want to be accepted and liked by their families, their teachers, and their peers. Children often rate their self-worth on how popular they are with others.
Academic self-esteem: Children want to do well in school, be perceived as intelligent by others, and feel that their time spent in school is productive.
Physical self-esteem: Athletic accomplishments lead to greater self-esteem. “Physical self-esteem” also refers to the child’s perception of his or her appearance. Children and adolescents will have higher self-esteem if they feel they are physically attractive to others.
Moral self-esteem: Children want others to see them as decent, moral, trustworthy individuals. They feel better about themselves if
• Are not able to pursue accomplishments in a responsible and disciplined manner. • Have poor communication skills. • Have a pessimistic view on life. • Are prone to anxiety, depression, hostility, loneliness, shame, and guilt. • Form unhealthy, destructive relationships with others. • Make decisions in life more to please others than to adhere to their own interests and value systems.
02.03
Infancy: Children between birth and two years of age develop (or fail to develop) two key concepts that contribute to self-esteem. The first is a sense of themselves as individuals. The child learns that he exists as an individual in the world, and that his actions have observable consequences in the surrounding environment. The child learns that he has the power to manipulate the world around him—to make things happen. The second important concept a child develops during this time is a sense of trust and love that is built upon a solid bond between the child and his caregivers.Therefore, the most important thing a parent can do to promote a child’s self-esteem during this time is to forge a strong bond between parent and
Handicapped children are often self-conscious about their inability to do things that most people take for granted. This can contribute to feelings of helplessness and worthlessness.
Body Image: Poor opinions of one’s physical appearance can have a large negative effect on self-esteem. (This is particularly true for teenage girls.) Adolescent girls are exposed to a lot of messages, through their peer groups and through the media, on the importance of looking the right way and having the right body shape. Therefore, many healthy and attractive young girls view themselves as overweight or otherwise unsightly. Parents should encourage their children to accept their bodies and appreciate the inherent differences found among human