What is Self-Esteem?

The term self-esteem is used to describe a person’s overall sense of self-worth or personal value. Self-esteem is often seen as a personality trait, which means that it tends to be stable and enduring. Self-esteem can involve a variety of beliefs about the self; such as the appraisal of one’s own appearance, beliefs, emotions and behaviors.

The Development of Self-Esteem

Patterns of self-esteem start very early in life. 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, and then finally succeed, they develop ideas about their own capabilities. At the same time, they are creating a self-concept based on interactions with other people. This is why parental involvement is key to helping kids form accurate, healthy self-perceptions.