Have you ever noticed a child walking with his chin up, smiling, and responsive to those around him? While playing and learning, his body language is relaxed, and he speaks up when spoken to. There is a bright positive energy from his eyes because he’s actively engaged in activity and enjoying the interaction with his environment. Have you noticed the opposite?
When a child moves like a magnet, closely connected to large objects, walls, corners, and the ground. He needs something internal and external to prop him upright. He looks in directions that do not interact with others and his eyes are glossy when spoken to. Attention is foggy while physically present and mentally absent, replaying a moment over and over again somewhere far away. The energy and words from this child are negative, dull, trapped and lacking a natural airy flow of life.
Looking internally at this understanding of self-esteem in an everyday reality means that you as a parent know when your child is happy, sad, mad, scared, and excited. Do you know when your child believes in him or herself? Can you see it, hear it, or intuitively perceive it? How? Do you see only good and bad or can you pinpoint moments or events where your child actively has or does not have self-esteem?
Children with positive self-esteem stand tall, speak at a level where others can hear them, make eye contact, ask questions, and explore the world in a curious hunger to learn, know, apply, analyze, and change. The voice inside their head says Yes I Can and asks what if and why. Self Esteem is the root to action, feeling, and thought in positive or negative directions.
When children have a growth mindset, they are able to learn, apply and achieve more goals. It is a cycle of movement that positivity guides them on a path towards success. High self-esteem allows children to face challenges with a positive attitude. Failure is learning instead of a definition of self. Through hard work, perseverance becomes a tool to complete goals.