Tip 128: May 2019 – High Self-Esteem Enhances Discipline

Website Educational Tips for Social/Emotional Development

Developing Self-Esteem to Enhance Discipline: Children need to feel
goodabout

themselves to be happy. Low self-esteem children are not able to identify
with the groupthey do not understand that what they do affects others. They
always want to do their own thing, and have it their way. To enhance
discipline, parents and teachersshould let children help make some
decisions. This way children with a strongsense of responsibility know that
what happens in their own life affects others. Independent children

have learned that they have resources to deal with problems within
themselves. Children need many opportunities to think through problems, see
the relationship between their behavior and the consequences, and therefore
learn to examine their judgment.

Children with low self-esteem feel they do not have the ability and
attitudes to work

througha problem, they think that they can’t do anythingabout the present
or the future.

They can develop a sense of helplessness. To overcome these feelings
parents and

teachers should act respectful and never call children stupid or bad.

Infants:
Belonging to Family
– An Infant gains satisfaction from associations that are significant and
having others affirmed their importance. This importance to others give
them security. They gain self-esteem by being related to other people in
their family.

Toddlers:
Limits and Expectations
– Toddlers need to understand what is acceptable behavior, so it is up to
the teachers and parents to explain to them before hand what the rules are,
and how they are expected to behave appropriately. This is particularly
important in new environments. Toddlers will be able to adapt tonew
situations in a more responsible manner if they know before hand how they
are expected act.

Preschoolers:
Good Role Models
– When preschoolers identify with goodrole models they see themselves
beinglike their role model. These can be heroes, camp counselors, teachers,
and parents. They develop goals which they believe they can reach and be
successful. But children with low self-esteem become high-risk children and
they don’t see themselves as capable. They depend on others to explain
everythingthat happens, and what they should do. They are more willing to
follows the crowd and get into trouble.

TIME - Is
How
Children Spell Love:
Many of today’s parents have little quality time to spend with their
children. Children often misinterpret this lack of time as a lack of love.
Is love really love if it isn’t expressed? How can love be expressed if
parents/teachers don’t spend quality time with children? Spending time with
children creates a bridge over which feelings of love can be passed.