Online Class: Building Self-Esteem in Children

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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13Lessons
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16Exams &
Assignments -
3,041Students
have taken this course -
5Hours
average time -
0.5CEUs
Course Description
While many of us feel we have an idea of what self-esteem is, it can still be difficult to pinpoint just how to go about helping a child to build a healthy one. In "Building Self-Esteem in Children," you will learn all about self-esteem and come out ready to put those skills into action in order to change a life, and make the world a better place.
This course goes beyond just the basics, such as why self-esteem is important, and what problems arise from children having low self-esteem. It also covers such in-depth angles as self-esteem at various stages throughout child development including infancy, elementary school, middle school, high school and young adulthood years.
This course also looks at how the words we use matter, the importance of being an active listener with children, defining values and core beliefs, and the power of positive thinking.
In addition this course will discuss the importance of taking a look at your own self-esteem, and how to go about making changes to build upon.
Course Motivation
Throughout this course we will look at a wide variety of factors that influence self-esteem. Along with defining exactly what it is, we will look at why it is so important. We will also break it down and look at the various life stages that children go through and how self-esteem is important, and developed, during each of these stages. After you finish this course you be able to identify unhealthy self-esteem, as well as how to help build a healthy self-esteem in children.
The skills you learn in this course are not only helpful in the home, but anywhere that you may be around children. But it doesn't stop there, because the same basic principle can be applied to adults as well. So if you, or other adults you know, could use a boost in self-esteem, you can adapt these skills to the adult level and apply them in order to help address the situation.
What is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem may be something that we can't put our hands on, but it is certainly something we can see, as well as feel. While we don't feel it with our hand, we do feel it inside each and every one of us. For many people, defining self-esteem is a difficult thing to do. While that may be so, it is something that impacts all of us. We all have one, whether we can readily identify it or not, or whether or not we can put our finger on a definition of what it is.
Having said that, it is actually much easier to explain what self-esteem is than it may seem. Self-esteem involves each person and how they feel about themselves. It is not about big egos or being vain, but rather a sense of how you feel about who you are, and what you are capable of. Those who feel good about themselves have a healthy sense of self-esteem. Those who don't feel good about themselves are lacking in the area of self-esteem.
In the field of psychology, self-esteem is an important buzz word that is often used. That's because one's self-esteem plays such a significant role in people's lives. A healthy level of self-esteem is linked to a higher level of confidence, as well as self-respect. Having both of these will usually help people in life, because they will make better choices and be better able to handle many of life's challenges.
Why It's Important
So now you know what self-esteem is, but you may not realize yet why it is so important. A person's self-esteem will impact how they treat themselves, and how others treat them. It is how worthy we believe that we are. Those with high self-esteem will tend to treat themselves better than those with low self-esteem. And when you treat yourself better, you end up helping to improve self-esteem, so it's a continuous circular situation.
For adults, this is easier to identify and understand, so they can make active choices that will lead to improving or guarding their self-esteem level. But when it comes to children, they don't yet understand what self-esteem is, or how to build it, making it important that the adults around them make it a high priority.
When people lack self-esteem it can lead to a host of problems. Children who lack a good sense of self-esteem may lack such things as:
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A sense of independence
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Being able to adequately express their emotions
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Assuming responsibility for their actions
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Positive social involvement
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Difficulty accepting compliments from others
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Expecting very little out of one's self or out of life
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Being able to trust one's opinions
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Not being able to properly handle peer pressure
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Healthy relationships with others
Additionally, researchers have found that those with low self-esteem are more prone to developing such things as eating disorders, as well as a range of mental health issues, such as depression. In lesson six, we will explore more in-depth what unhealthy self-esteem looks like.
Causes of Low Self-Esteem
When it comes to the self-esteem of children, parents play the biggest role in helping to develop it. However, many parents may have difficulty helping their children to have a healthy self-esteem, simply because they may lack it themselves, or they may not know what it is that they need to do in order to help their child develop it.
There are many factors that can contribute to low self-esteem in children. Not all children experience the same things that lead to low self-esteem, so it is important to keep an open mind when you see child who is lacking in the self-esteem department. Many children with low self-esteem don't like the way they look, while others may not care for the way they act, or a combination of the two. Some children may have low self-esteem because they have a poor body image, or because they are taller than other children their age. Other children may have low self-esteem because of abuse in the home. Most children who suffer some sort of abuse in the home will have low self-esteem. This abuse may be in the form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or even verbal abuse, where the child is told they are worthless or not capable of doing things.
When children live in an atmosphere where they are consistently criticized, abused, or berated, they will most likely grow up to feel they have very little self worth, thus leading them to have low self-esteem and a poor self-image. But it's even more than what takes place at home. A poor self-esteem can also be influenced by what goes on in school, or other activities that children engage in.
If children routinely perform poorly at school they may develop a sense of low self-worth because of their inability to do well. The same holds true for those children who may be repeatedly ridiculed, teased, or bullied at school. Whether it is in the classroom, the lunch room, or in playing sports, if there is consistent negative teasing or ridiculing, it will usually give children a negative self-esteem. Even if their parents are working hard to help instill a healthy self-esteem and they encounter consistent negativity at school, it can become a problem that leads to low self-esteem. This is because children often place a high value on what their peers say or believe and they want to please and fit in with them.
Self-esteem is such an important issue in regard to children, because that is where the foundation for it begins. How a child learns to see, or value, himself or herself as a child will lay the foundation for the way they feel as an adult. It's really during childhood when the stage is set for someone's self-esteem. If you can help a child have a strong foundation for self-esteem, it is something that will likely last them a lifetime.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1 : An Introduction to Self-Esteem
Lesson 1 Video
Lesson discussions: Self-Esteem; Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Assessment: Lesson 1 : An Introduction to Self-Esteem
Lesson 2 : Self-Esteem and Infancy
Lesson 2 Video
Assessment: Lesson 2 : Self-Esteem and Infancy
Lesson 3 : Self-Esteem and the Toddler Years
Lesson 3 Video
Assessment: Lesson 3 : Self-Esteem and the Toddler Years
Lesson 4 : The Elementary and Middle School Years
Lesson 4 Video
Assessment: Lesson 4 : The Elementary and Middle Years
Lesson 5 : Teen Years and Entering Adulthood
Lesson 5 Video
Assessment: Lesson 5 : Teen Years and Entering Adulthood
Lesson 6 : Identifying Unhealthy Self-Esteem
Lesson 6 Video
Assessment: Lesson 6 : Identifying Unhealthy Self-Esteem
Lesson 7 : Words Matter
Lesson 7 Video
Assessment: Lesson 7 : Words Matter
Lesson 8 : Importance of Active Listening
Lesson 8 Video
Assessment: Lesson 8 : Importance of Active Listening
Lesson 9 : Improving Your Own Self-Esteem
Lesson 9 Video
Lesson discussions: Self-Esteem
Assessment: Lesson 9 : Improving Your Own Self-Esteem
Lesson 10 : Defining Values and Core Beliefs
Lesson 10 Video
Assessment: Lesson 10 : Defining Values and Core Beliefs
Lesson 11 : Beyond Self-Esteem
Lesson 11 Video
Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 11 : Beyond Self-Esteem
Lesson 12 : The Power of Positive Thinking
Lesson 12 Video
Assessment: Lesson 12 : The Power of Positive Thinking
Lesson 13 : Putting It All Together
Lesson 13 Video
Lesson discussions: Building Self-Esteem; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
Assessment: Lesson 13 : Putting it All Together
Assessment: Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Define what self-esteem is an why it is important particularly with children.
- Describe how self-esteem begins at infancy.
- Identify issues of self-esteem in the toddler years.
- Identify issues of self-esteem in elementary and middle school years.
- Identify issues of self-esteem and ways to improve it in teen years and early adulthood.
- Identify unhealthy self-esteem issues.
- Demonstrate what words to use to promote positive self-esteem.
- Define and demonstrate active listening.
- Determine ways to improve your own self-esteem.
- Define your core values and beliefs.
- Discuss issues of controversies and over-parenting.
- Describe the benefits of positive thinking.
- Demonstrate how to put concepts discussed into action for your everyday life.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Time to complete | 6 months |
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Time to complete | 12 Months |
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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "It made me very sad because it educated me and triggered my own abuse. I also became infuriated because children do not get the treatment they deserve." -- Regina L.
- "This course was very helpful. I learned so much and I will be able to use what I have learned. Thanks." -- Mary S.
- "I really enjoyed this course and it will be really helpful to me as a primary school teacher." -- Melissa O.
- "I thoroughly enjoyed taking this course and believe it will be helpful in furthering my career." -- Savannah R.
- "The instructor was experienced in this subject. Great instructor." -- Iva E.
- "The instructor is great! Always available and accurate feedback." -- Lia S.
- "THIS COURSE ROCKED!" -- Seth M.
- "All the lessons were great and informative." -- Linda W.
- "It was very well organized and separated into different parts that flowed together." -- Leona R.
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