• Use your classroom as a place for children to develop self-esteem.today image by alwayspp from Fotolia.com
  
  A healthy self-image is important for children to function well in school, home and social environments. Educators can use classroom hours to help develop students' self-esteem. Encouragement and positive statements about a child's contribution is central to this development. Activities can add to the discussion of healthy self-esteem and help children understand the unique roles they each play. The following is a list of a few classroom activities to facilitate discussion and development of self-esteem.
  
  

Who I Am Collage

• Supplies:
  Magazines - 2 or 3 per student
  Construction paper of assorted colors
  Glue
  Scissors
  
  Supply each student with a piece of construction paper, magazines, scissors and glue. Instruct them to cut out pictures and phrases from the magazine that represent them in some way and glue them on the paper.
  
  When children are finished with their collage, have them present their project to the class and describe why each of the items is important to them. Hang projects on the wall to display the differences and similarities among students in your class.
  
  You will be surprised at the diversity and creativity present amongst your students!
  
  

All of Me

• Supplies:
  crayons or colored pencils
  construction paper
  
  Discuss with your students the different roles they play in their worlds. For example: boys may be brothers, nephews, sons, uncles, grandsons, etc. Other roles may include sports they play, things they like to do, and many more. Ask the students to come up with ideas and write them on a list for the class to see.
  
  After the discussion, hand them a sheet of construction paper and crayons and tell them to draw four different roles they play. When they are finished, have each child present their drawing to the class.
  
  Draw the activity to a close by pointing out the unique role that each one of them plays in their world. Nobody else can be who they are, which should make each student proud to play their part!
  
  

Class Links

• Supplies:
  pencils
  markers
  lined paper
  strips of colored construction paper (5 per student)
  staples
  
  This activity is designed to build students' self-esteem and bolster class pride by helping them see how their talents work together.
  
  Begin this activity by asking students to tell you things they do really well. After discussing this briefly, pass out lined paper to students and have them write down five things they do well. When they are finished, ask students to share their talents with the class. When a person is done sharing, hand that student five strips of construction paper and instruct him or her to write one of their talents on each strip and staple them together into linked rings. As the children finish, they will staple their small chains together to create one huge chain of talents.
  
  Discuss with your students the meaning of the chain and display it for the class to look at for a few weeks.