DOUBLE TAB TO ZOOM ON PHONE OR TABLET TA K E H O M E FAMILY INFORMATION THERE’S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT ME! Children who feel good about themselves are better able to cope with daily situations. Children develop self-esteem by receiving praise and encouragement from family members and through love and security provided at home. No child excels at everything. Some children can run fast or jump high, others easily learn to read or write, and some can tie their own shoes at an early age. But some tasks are more difficult for individual children. Assure your child that it is okay if he or she cannot do something. Usu- ally practice will develop or improve skills. Acknowledge your child’s skills as they develop, and notice her or his efforts to learn new skills. Recognize your child’s accomplishments, such as putting away a toy, getting dressed, throw- ing a ball, or reading or looking through a book with you. EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL Help children feel good about themselves and their abilities by recognizing them. Offer smiles, hugs, and words, such as “I like the colors you used!” or “You really worked hard on that!” Encourage individualization. Children may color the sky green and the grass pink, and that is okay. Some children love to sing and make up their own songs. Other children dance to their own music and their own beat. You can help your child feel good about himself or herself. In front of a mirror, have your child repeat affirmations, such as “My favorite thing about me is (my hair, my smile, how smart I am)” and “I sure can (whistle, draw, skip) well.” From Social and Emotional Well-Being by Connie Jo Smith, Charlotte M. Hendricks, and Becky S. Bennett, © 2014. Published by Redleaf Press, www.redleafpress.org. This page may be reproduced for classroom use only. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 13