How Self-Esteem is Formed

Unlike what google searches tell you about the self-esteem of your kids, smiling and positive reinforcement won't make your kid self confident. Children form their self-image and their self-esteem by observing themselves master their world. When a child observes herself do something that she feels good about she feels more confident.

A child gets out of the car for kindergarten, walks up the sidewalk to that giant building and goes through that door with his Star Wars lunch pail. When he walks in there, sits down and gets through that first day he or she says to himself: "I did that! I got out of the car and I walked up there and I sat down for three hours on my own". And then they walk out of that kindergarten classroom a foot taller.

Parents can not lecture, suggest, advise or carry their child into self-esteem. Self-esteem is acquired through mastering the world one step and one frustration at the time. Parent can however help their children acquire more self-esteem by progressively providing opportunities for the child that he or she can approach and succeed at:

• Help create a hierarchy of the situation that a child is having difficulty with. 
• A hierarchy allows a child to start at a level that s/he can handle, and progressively move on to handle more and more difficult problems.
• The success of the child at each level accumulates in greater confidence, ability and self esteem.
• The secret is to move gradually, taking steps short enough to insure that the child will be successful.

Easier said than done? Our Parent Effectiveness Training teaches you the skills to help your child become more confident. Enroll now in one of our upcoming winter classes.

Check Out All of Our WINTER Classes!

Spring 2022 Schedule:

P.E.T. Class (8 week Zoom)
Tuesday Evening Pacific Time 
    Mar 15th - May 10th 2022 (8 weeks)*
    7:00PM - 10:00PM PACIFIC TIME
      * NO Class April 5th 
Thursday Morning Pacific Time 
    Mar 17th - May 12th 2022 (8 weeks)*
    9:00AM - 12:00PM PACIFIC TIME
      * NO Class April 7th
Saturday Morning Pacific Time 
    Feb 26th - Apr 16th 2022 (8 weeks)
    9:00AM - 12:00PM PACIFIC TIME

Waiting List: Tell Us Your Preferred Time
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P.E.T. Book Club (6 week Zoom)
Monday Evenings Pacific Time
    Feb 28th - Apr 11th 2022 (6 weeks)*
    5:00PM - 6:30PM PACIFIC TIME  
      * NO Class April 4th
Wednesday Morning Pacific Time 
    Mar 16th - Apr 20th 2022 (6 weeks)*
    9:30am - 11:00am PACIFIC TIME
      * NO Class April 6th
Waiting List: Tell Us Your Preferred Time

P.E.T. REFRESHER (4 week Zoom)
Tuesday Morning Pacific Time
    Mar 1st - Mar 22nd 2022 (4 weeks)
    9:30AM - 11:00AM PACIFIC TIME

Sunday Afternoon Pacific Time
    Mar 5th - Mar 26th 2022 (4 weeks)
    4:30pm - 6:00pm PACIFIC TIME

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