self esteem | Magination Press Family

Books to Help Your Child Develop a Healthy Self-Concept

Child Development February 25, 2021 10:00 am

In recognition of International Boost Self-Esteem Month, we’re highlighting some of our books to help your child explore and develop their sense of self. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everyone’s usual experiences and interactions have been disrupted, kids may be feeling less self-assured. These stories can help you and your child explore ways to foster a positive self-concept. Being Me: A Kid’s Guide to Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem by Wendy L. Moss, PhD explores confidence and provides tips and advice to build it. It also provides tools to explore strengths and feel more confident in school or with friends. Blossom and Bud by Frank J. Sileo, PhD explores body image and will help kids love themselves all around, no matter their shape or size. Fantastic You! by Danielle Dufayet celebrates individuality and encourages children to practice self-care, including positive self-talk and self-compassion. Hear Ms. Dufayet read Fantastic You! aloud here. I Want Your Moo: A Story for Children About Self-Esteem by Marcella Bakur Weiner, EdD, PhD, and Jill Neimark explores how it feels to not like yourself and how empowering it can be to embrace your uniqueness in a fun, rhyming picture book. Lucy’s Light by Jo Rooks Lucy is a lightning bug and the most talented flyer in the squad. There's just one problem: she doesn't light up! A sweet story which shines a light on inner confidence, self-acceptance, and courage. Lucy learns that doing a good deed will always make you shine bright! Read a post about Lucy’s Light and fostering a healthy self-concept here. Neon Words: 10 Brilliant Ways to Light Up Your Writing by Marge Pellegrino and Kay Sather provides writing prompts and activities to connect the word-organizing part of the brain to the free-ranging imagination. Playing with words can boost confidence and help you be more present in life. Print out sample pages from Neon Words here. So Many Smarts by Michael Genhart, PhD explores and celebrates all kinds of smarts—nature smarts, people smarts, music smarts, spatial smarts, and more. Hear Dr. Genhart read So Many Smarts! aloud here. Why Am I Blue? A Story About Being Yourself by Kalli Dakos Everyone is different, and accepting differences in oneself and others can be challenging. Why am I Blue explores this concept and helps children toward understanding and accepting their own as well as others' differences and similarities. Read an interview with Kalli Dakos here. Nurturing a healthy self-concept is a life-long task. Sharing books and talking with your child about this process can help them learn to recognize their strengths and build resilience.

Build Your Library: Nurturing Your Gifts

Uncategorized August 27, 2020 12:05 pm

Everyone has different gifts and abilities. Recognizing and nurturing one's gifts helps build confidence and a positive self-image. As kids get ready to head back to school, whether in person or online, they may be questioning their "smarts." These books, from Magination Press's Build Your Library Collection, can help you support your child as they explore and develop their gifts and sense of self. Being Me: A Kid's Guide to Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem by Wendy L. Moss, PhD explores confidence and provides tips and advice to build it. It also provides tools to explore strengths and feel more confident in school or with friends. Fantastic You! by Danielle Dufayet celebrates individuality and encourages children to practice self-care, including positive self-talk and self-compassion. Hear Ms. Dufayet read Fantastic You! aloud here. I Want Your Moo: A Story for Children About Self-Esteem by Marcella Bakur Weiner, EdD, PhD, and Jill Neimark explores how it feels to not like yourself and how empowering it can be to embrace your uniqueness in a fun, rhyming picture book. Neon Words: 10 Brilliant Ways to Light Up Your Writing by Marge Pellegrino and Kay Sather provides writing prompts and activities to connect the word-organizing part of the brain to the free-ranging imagination. Playing with words can boost confidence and help you be more present in life. Print out sample pages from Neon Words here. So Many Smarts by Michael Genhart, PhD explores and celebrates all kinds of smarts—nature smarts, people smarts, music smarts, spatial smarts, and more. Hear Dr. Genhart read So Many Smarts! aloud here. Through October 31, 2020, get 25% off your purchase and free shipping when you order books directly from Magination Press through APA.org. Click here to books and use code FF25 at checkout.

Magination Press Quick Tip: Fostering Your Child’s Healthy Self-Concept

Social Emotional Learning February 26, 2020 9:30 am By Jo Rooks

3

February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month As a parent, helping your child develop a healthy self-concept is an ongoing task. The term “self-esteem” is widely used, but is also complicated. Studies have shown that not enough self-esteem is a problem, but so is too much. If a child’s self self-esteem is based on an inflated impression of ability, instead of merit, that can be harmful, too. Self-concept is a broader idea than self-esteem. It’s how a person thinks about herself generally, not just the esteem part. So how do you help your child develop a balanced, healthy self-concept? Focus on empowering your child to make choices and act for herself. Praise genuine effort and achievement. Teach your child about self-acceptance. Here are some strategies to try: Give your child age-appropriate choices to help them feel empowered. It can be as simple as “would you like apples or carrots with your lunch?” or “of these picture books, which one would you like to read first?" Making these small decisions will allow them to grow in confidence, build personal agency, and feel that their opinion is valued. Embrace the idea that nobody is perfect. Show your child that don’t expect everyone to be good at everything, and that we all have things which we find more challenging. Point out to your child when you are struggling with something by saying something like: "Oops. That didn't work out the way I thought it would. That's ok. I'll try again." Emphasize effort, persistence, and improvement, not immediate perfection. Allow your child to do things for themselves. Learning a new skill such as doing their buttons up by themselves will give them a true sense of accomplishment. As a parent, this takes patience, but building new skills takes time.The goal isn’t perfection, but growing independence and confidence. Don’t compare your child to others or their siblings.Try to appreciate each child’s individual qualities. Give praise and point out when they have done things well. Acknowledging the effort and hard work put into an achievement is important. So is talking about what happened when kids fail. Everyone stumbles or fails: what we learn from our failures is valuable and lets us do better in the future. A healthy self-concept includes a balance of esteem and self-knowledge resulting in confidence, perseverance, and humility. A realistic self-image based on accurate and age-appropriate feedback and experience can help your child navigate life's challenges. These tips are provided by Jo Rooks, author of Magination Press book, Lucy’s Light. Lucy’s Light is about learning self-acceptance.

self esteem: 7 Articles

Books to Help Your Child Develop a Healthy Self-Concept

Build Your Library: Nurturing Your Gifts

Magination Press Quick Tip: Fostering Your Child’s Healthy Self-Concept