Low self-esteem in children

It is sometimes easy to tell if  a child feels good about herself  or not. The  idea of feeling good about yourself is known as self-esteem.  Children  who have self-esteem tend to :

  • Feel loved and valued
  • Feel proud of a job well done
  • Feel confident that they can do what is expected
  • Think good things about themselves
  • Feel prepared for everyday challenges

low self esteem

However it is also possible that a child has low self-esteem . In this case, the  child may exhibit these signs .

  • The child may avoid a test or challenge even before trying.  This is often a sign of fear of failure or sense  of helplessness.
  • She quits  soon after beginning a task or game and gives up at the first sight of frustrations.
  • The child focuses on the times they’ve failed rather than succeeded.
  • She has difficulty accepting praise or criticism.
  • She feels insecure and not as good as other kids.
  • The child experiences mood swings, exhibiting sadness, crying, angry outbursts, frustration, or quietness.
  • The child experiences grade decline  in school and loses interest in different activities.
  • She withdraws from social activities and is less interested  in friends.
  • She shows signs of regression and acts like a baby or very silly .
  • The child is very concerned  about people’s opinion about her.
  • She is either overly helpful or never helpful at home.
  • She is affected by negative peer influence, adopting attitudes and behaviors like dislike for school, shoplifting, acting disrespectful, cutting class  or experimenting with alcohol, tobacco or drugs.
  • She cheats and lies whenever she’s losing a game or doing poorly.

 

Content Sources
Signs of low self-esteem. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/Pages/Signs-of-Low-Self-Esteem.aspx. Accessed April 23rd, 2018

Developing your child’s self esteem. Nemour’s Foundation. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/self-esteem.html. Accessed April 23rd, 2018

The effect of low self-esteem in children. Livestrong. https://www.livestrong.com/article/138859-the-effects-low-self-esteem-children/. Accessed April 23rd, 2018

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