My happy and healthy self
Marvellous Me
Strong, warm and supportive relationships with adults enable children to learn how to understand their own feelings and those of others. Children should be supported to manage emotions, develop a positive sense of self, set themselves simple goals, have confidence in their own abilities, to persist and wait for what they want and direct attention as necessary.
This page provides some additional tips and activities on how you can encourage your child to do this at home.
Give lots of positive feedback
• Specific feedback helps children understand exactly what they did well and what they should continue to do in order to improve. This will give them a clear direction for how to repeat their success.
• When feedback is specific, it is more meaningful and credible for children. Children are more likely to believe and internalise feedback that is specific and concrete, rather than general and vague.
• By focusing on the specific actions and behaviours that lead to success, children learn that their abilities and performance are not fixed, but can be improved through effort and practice.
• By being more specific, it helps children to identify and appreciate their own strengths and unique talents, which can boost their self-esteem and confidence.
Talk about emotions and feelings with your child
Talking about emotions with children and explaining how feelings appear is important for several reasons:
• It helps children develop the ability to regulate their emotions and manage their behaviour.
• Children learn to recognise and understand the emotions of others, helping them to develop empathy and improve their social skills.
• It can help them to communicate their feelings more effectively.
• Helps children to become more self-aware and to understand how different situations can affect their emotions.
• Supports fostering creativity and self-expression, which can be beneficial for personal development.
Include your child in age appropriate tasks to do at home
Including your child in age-appropriate tasks around the house, such as putting toys away and laying the table, helps them develop independence, responsibility, self-esteem and life skills.
It also teaches them to contribute to the household and be part of a team, as well as providing opportunities for parents to guide and mentor them, and to reinforce positive behaviors, values and attitudes.
