The origins of self-esteem and elementary school children

Abstract

The origins of self-esteem in elementary school are not well known. Teachers and parents frequently attempt to enhance children’s self-esteem by praising intelligence, achievement, and effort. This research project concerns a review of literature on how best to praise, what specifically to praise, and how to encourage students to persist efforts to master difficult new challenges. The results of some recent research indicates that whether children are praised for intelligence or effort can make important differences in future efforts. An ultimate purpose of this research is to provide a set of guidelines that school psychologists could use in providing teachers and parents on how to enhance the self-esteem and motivation of children with learning difficulties,