EFFECT OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM
EFFECT OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM
By Bisi Adewale
What Is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem is similar to self-worth (how much a person values himself or herself). This can change from day to day or from year to year; but overall self-esteem tends to develop from infancy and keeps going until one becomes an adult.
Self-esteem also can be defined as feelings of being capable and also of being loved. A child who is happy with an achievement but does not feel loved may eventually experience low self-esteem. Likewise, a child who feels loved but is hesitant about his or her own abilities can also develop low self-esteem. Healthy self-esteem comes when a good balance is maintained.
Self-esteem has patterns which start very early in life. The concept of success following efforts and persistence starts early. Once people reach adulthood, it’s harder to make changes to how they see and define themselves.
So, it is wise to think about developing and promoting self-esteem during childhood. As kids try, fail, try again, fail again, and then finally succeed, they develop ideas about their own capabilities. At the same time, they create a self-concept based on interactions with other people. This is why parental involvement is important to helping kids form accurate, healthy self-perceptions.
Parents and caregivers can promote healthy self-esteem by showing encouragement and enjoyment in many areas. Avoid focusing on one specific area; for example, success on a spelling test, which can lead to kids feeling that they are only as valuable as their test scores.
Signs of unhealthy and healthy self-esteem
Self-esteem fluctuates as kids grow. It is frequently changed and fine-tuned, because it is affected by a child’s experiences and new perceptions. So it helps to be aware of the signs of both healthy and unhealthy self-esteem.
Children with low self-esteem may not want to try new things and may speak negatively about themselves: “I’m stupid,” “I’ll never learn how to do this,” or “What is the point? Nobody cares about me anyway.” They may exhibit a low tolerance for frustration, giving up easily or waiting for somebody else to take over. They tend to be overly critical of and easily disappointed in themselves.
Children with low self-esteem see temporary setbacks as permanent, intolerable conditions, and a sense of pessimism prevails. This can place kids at risk for stress and mental health problems, as well as real difficulties solving different kinds of problems and challenges they encounter.
Children with healthy self-esteem tend to enjoy interacting with others. They are comfortable in social settings and enjoy group activities as well as independent pursuits. When challenges arise, they can work toward finding solutions and voice discontent without belittling themselves or others. For example, rather than saying, “I’m an idiot,” a child with healthy self-esteem says, “I don’t understand this.” They know their strengths and weaknesses, and accept them. A sense of optimism prevails.
Source: kidshealth.org
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