Educator's Toolkit to promote a Healthy Child

    Self-concept is the belief of one self. This can be one's appearance or goals. Self-esteem is the rating how oneself feels. Youth typically would begin to have a real sense of identity (American Psychological Association, 2002, p 15), by experimenting in several domains. This can be through music or appearance. Experimenting is a positive development, and the lack of it is of concern. By experimenting, the adolescent will be able to acquire moral and reasoning skills.

 

    Teens should be able to start mastering emotional skills to manage stress or communicate with others. It establishes self-reflection to be possible, and identify feelings to others.

 

    Group differences can play a negative role through stereotypes (p 18). For example, a culture that has a major focus on a “White, heterosexual, thin, and able-bodied middle-class teen” may lower the self-esteem of other non-dominant groups, such as girls, ethnic groups, and sexual identities. The American Psychological Association recommends promoting resilience and confidence in the youth's own identity.

    

    Mindfulness is found to benefit children and adults in reduce stress, anxiety, eating disorders (Hooker, Fodor, 2008, p 82). Focused self-awareness forms the basis of mindfulness. Some may be uncomfortable of their own self-awareness, and the adolescent should be encouraged, not forced, to participate.

 

    Play-based learning, especially free-play, is important to learning development (Ginsburg, 2007, p 183) because it allows them to take risks.