The Ultimate Daily Checklist to Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem

Welcome!

While I usually focus on sharing educational content for teachers, today I want to speak directly to parents. If you’re a teacher, don’t worry—this resource is also perfect for strengthening your parent-school connections!

The Ultimate Daily Guide to Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem

Discover the Power of Small Actions in Building Your Child's Confidence

Self-esteem plays a critical role in shaping your child's happiness, resilience, and overall success. As parents and educators, we all want to nurture confident, capable children who believe in their worth. The good news? Building self-esteem doesn’t require elaborate plans or time-consuming strategies. It’s the small, intentional actions we take every day that have the most significant impact.

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What Is Self-Esteem and Why Is It So Important?

Self-esteem refers to a child’s sense of self-worth and confidence in their abilities. It’s what helps them tackle challenges, form meaningful relationships, and bounce back from setbacks. Healthy self-esteem equips kids with the tools they need to navigate life’s ups and downs with optimism and perseverance.

When a child struggles with low self-esteem, they may experience feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, or frustration. These feelings can impact their academic performance, friendships, and emotional well-being. That’s why fostering a positive sense of self is one of the most valuable gifts we can give our children.

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Why Small Actions Have Big Results

Small, intentional actions are the foundation of healthy self-esteem. Children are highly receptive to the environment around them, and even the smallest gestures can leave a lasting impact. Here’s why:

1. Repetition Builds Belief

• When children consistently hear positive affirmations and experience encouragement, it reinforces their internal belief system. Daily positive interactions build a strong sense of self-worth over time.

2. Actions Speak Louder Than Words

• Kids learn through observation. Small acts of kindness, acknowledgment, and support show them they are valued and loved. These actions create a safe space where they feel confident to express themselves.

3. The Cumulative Effect

• While a single compliment or moment of connection may seem minor, these actions add up. Over weeks and months, these consistent efforts create a ripple effect, shaping how your child views themselves and their capabilities.

4. Encouragement Fuels Resilience

• Small daily actions provide the foundation for emotional resilience. By showing children they are capable and supported, you empower them to face challenges with confidence.

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Download Your Daily Checklist to Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem

To help you implement these strategies with ease, I’ve created a Daily Guide to Building Your Child’s Self-Esteem Checklist. This resource has easy to implement actionable steps and reminders that make building self-esteem simple and effective.

Whether you’re a busy parent or an educator sharing resources with families, this checklist provides the structure you need to make a big difference in little ways.

You can download it now from my Teachers Pay Teachers store and start seeing the positive impact these small actions can have on your child’s life.

Please click HERE to head to my TPT store.

New Year Classroom Activities: Goal-Setting and Self-Development for Students

The New Year is here, bringing fresh opportunities for growth with self-development activities for students and teachers alike! The first few weeks back after winter break are the perfect time to set the tone for the rest of the school year. What better way to do that than by guiding your students to reflect on their successes, set meaningful goals, and start building positive habits?

I’m all about activities that are practical, purposeful, and educational—especially in those busy post-holiday weeks. Today, I’m sharing three practical self-development activities for students, designed to help them reflect, set goals, and build positive habits in the classroom. Plus, I’ll show you how to save time with resources that make self-development fun and easy to teach.

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Activity 1: "The Year So Far" Reflection Chart

Reflection is an essential step in student goal-setting activities, helping them understand their strengths and areas for growth. Start the year by having your students think back on what they accomplished in the first half of the school year. Create a simple chart with three columns labeled: “What I’m Proud Of,” “What I Struggled With,” and “What I Want to Improve.”

How to Implement:

• Low-Level Learners: Provide sentence starters or prompts like “One thing I did well was…” or “I found it hard to…”

• Medium-Level Learners: Let them fill out the chart independently, then pair up to share and discuss their reflections with a partner.

• High-Level Learners: Challenge them to write a short paragraph summarizing their reflections and how these insights can guide their goals.

Make It Easier: Use the reflection worksheet from my “Reflection, Goal Setting, and Tracker Worksheet Packet” to save time. It’s pre-made and perfect for this activity! Click HERE.

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Activity 2: “My New Year’s Habit Tracker” Game

Teaching students to build positive habits can feel overwhelming, but using habit tracker games makes the process engaging and fun! Create a habit tracker with simple, achievable goals, like “Finish my homework,” “Help a classmate,” or “Write in my journal.” Students earn points for every day they complete their chosen habit.

How to Implement:

• Low-Level Learners: Focus on one habit per week. Use stickers or stamps to mark their progress visually.

• Medium-Level Learners: Allow them to choose two habits and track them on their own with a simple chart.

• High-Level Learners: Encourage them to design their own habit tracker, complete with a reward system for meeting their goals.

Save Time: My January Daily Habit Tracker takes the guesswork out of this activity, providing a ready-to-use template that’s both simple and visually appealing. Click HERE.

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Activity 3: SMART Goals Scavenger Hunt

Goal-setting is a skill that can feel abstract for students, but teaching them to set SMART goals makes it manageable and effective. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.) Turn it into a scavenger hunt where students move around the room to different stations, each focused on a part of SMART goals. For example, one station could ask, “How can you make your goal measurable?”

How to Implement:

• Low-Level Learners: Create simple, guided questions at each station and have them work in pairs for support.

• Medium-Level Learners: Let them navigate the stations independently, using prompts to guide their thinking.

• High-Level Learners: Ask them to create their own SMART goal at the end and present it to the class.

Enhance the Activity: My SMART Goals Worksheet Packet includes prompts, examples, and writing frames to help your students create meaningful and achievable goals. Click HERE.

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Easy Resources to Make Your Life Simpler

I know how hectic the first few weeks back can be. That’s why I’ve created resources to take the prep work off your plate while giving your students meaningful self-development opportunities. Check out these products:

January 2025 Calendar to Color – Perfect for morning work and early finishers. Click HERE.

Poppin' Into the New Year – A no-prep packet with vocabulary activities, including a word scramble, crack the secret code, word search, definitions matching, crossword puzzle, reflections, goal setting, writing paper, and coloring page. Click HERE

      

New Year Craftivity – An engaging hands-on activity to make goal-setting memorable. Click HERE.

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Wrapping Up

The New Year is a perfect time for fresh starts, and implementing classroom self-development activities can inspire student growth and achievement. Whether it’s reflecting on their progress, building new habits, or setting ambitious goals, these activities will set the stage for a successful year ahead.

Try out these ideas, and if you’re looking for ready-made resources to make your life easier, explore the ones I’ve shared above. Here’s to a year filled with growth, success, and lots of proud teacher moments!

Please click HERE to see educational resources in my Amazon Associate store.

Top 10 Ways to Build Self-Esteem in Children: A Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Homeschoolers

 

Top 10 Ways to Build Self-Esteem in Your Children

As parents, teachers, and even homeschoolers, one of the most valuable gifts you can give a child is a strong sense of self-worth. Children with high self-esteem are better equipped to face challenges, build meaningful relationships, and grow into confident, happy adults. On the other hand, low self-esteem can lead to struggles such as poor academic performance, difficulty making friends, and even serious issues like depression or anxiety.

Here are 10 actionable ways to nurture self-esteem in your children. These tips are simple yet powerful and can be implemented in everyday life to make a lasting impact.

Want to keep these tips handy? 

Download our free printable “Top 10 Ways to Build Self-Esteem in Your Children” PDF for an easy reference guide! 

Click HERE to get your free download. It’s perfect for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers alike!

1. Draw Attention to Your Child’s Strengths

Everyone loves to feel recognized for what they do well. Whether your child excels in math, art, sports, or kindness, make sure to highlight these strengths. Celebrate their wins, no matter how small. If your child’s strength is playing Go Fish or helping a sibling, let them know you see and appreciate their efforts.

2. Teach Your Child How to Handle Failure

Failure is an inevitable part of life, but how we approach it matters. Help your child understand that failure is a learning opportunity. When something doesn’t go as planned, guide them in analyzing what happened and brainstorming ways to improve. Encourage persistence and emphasize that success often comes after setbacks.

3. Give Your Child Choices

Children feel empowered when they have control over certain aspects of their lives. For example, when getting ready for school, offer a few outfit options and let your child pick their favorite. This simple act helps them feel capable and independent while staying within the boundaries you set.

4. Support Your Child’s Social Life

Peer acceptance is especially important during the school years. If your child’s preferences (like wearing purple jeans) seem unusual to you but help them fit in with their peers, consider supporting those choices. While you don’t need to approve every trend, allowing some flexibility can boost their confidence.

5. Let Them Struggle—But End with Success

Resist the urge to step in at every sign of struggle. Challenges can teach problem-solving and resilience. For example, if they’re building a puzzle and hit a roadblock, offer hints instead of solving it for them. Be sure to celebrate when they overcome the challenge on their own.

6. Be Genuine with Your Praise

Children can sense when praise is insincere. Instead of saying, “This is the best drawing ever,” try focusing on specific details, like, “I love how you used so many colors in this butterfly.” Authentic feedback helps them trust your words and believe in their abilities.

7. Let Them Overhear Your Compliments

Children thrive on positive reinforcement, especially when they overhear it. Mentioning something great about them to a friend or family member while your child is nearby can leave a lasting impression. “Did you see how well Alex cleaned up the yard today? I’m so proud of him!”

8. Avoid Comparisons

Every child is unique. Comparing siblings or classmates can hurt a child’s confidence and create unnecessary tension. Instead of saying, “Why can’t you be as neat as your sister?” focus on their individual strengths and encourage them to improve at their own pace.

9. Spend One-on-One Time Together

Quality time shows your child they matter. Whether it’s playing a board game, baking cookies, or just talking about their day, undivided attention strengthens your bond and boosts their self-worth. They’ll feel valued knowing you chose to spend your time with them.

10. Offer Encouragement and Support

Life can be tough, and kids need to know they’re not alone. When your child is facing challenges, be their biggest cheerleader. Offer words of encouragement like, “I know you’re capable,” or “You’re doing great, keep going.” Imagine what you would have wanted to hear as a child and share those sentiments.

Final Thoughts

Raising children with healthy self-esteem is one of the most important roles a parent or teacher can play. Small, intentional actions each day can make a world of difference in how children see themselves. They’re always watching, listening, and learning from you, so seize those moments to build them up.

By focusing on these strategies, you’ll help your children feel valued, confident, and ready to take on the world.

Printable Place Value Chart and Activity Ideas 4th 5th Grade

 Making Decimal Place Value Stick with Engaging Activities

Decimals can be a tricky concept for our students to grasp, especially when we’re asking them to think beyond whole numbers and into the realms of tenths, hundredths, and beyond. I remember when I first started teaching decimals—it was a challenge to make the learning experience engaging and meaningful for my students. But over time, I found a few strategies that really helped the concept click.

Before we begin with some fun activities, please click HERE to receive a free decimal place value anchor chart.

(Printable PDF format)

Place Value Teaching Ideas for 4th and 5th Grade Students:

• Use Real-World Examples: 

When teaching decimals, I found that connecting the concept to real-life scenarios really made a difference. For example, discussing money is a fantastic way to show students how decimals are used in everyday life. You can set up a classroom store, where students have to add up prices with decimal points, or even organize a mock bank where they deposit and withdraw money.

• Interactive Place Value Charts: 

I used to create large, interactive place value charts that the students could physically manipulate. It’s one thing to see the numbers on paper, but when they can physically move a "1" from the tenths column to the hundredths column, it makes a big difference.

• Math Journals:

Have your students keep math journals where they write down what they’ve learned about decimals each day. Encourage them to include drawings and examples, and ask them to write about how they’ve seen decimals used in their everyday lives. This reflection helps solidify their understanding.

• Differentiated Instruction: 

One thing I’ve learned is the importance of differentiation. Not all students learn in the same way or at the same pace. For students who struggle, I might start with a concrete approach, using manipulatives like base-ten blocks to physically represent the decimal values. For my more advanced students, I challenge them with tasks that involve decimal place values in more complex, real-world scenarios, like calculating discounts during a mock shopping activity.

• Peer Teaching: 

I’ve seen great success with peer teaching. Pairing up students—where one has a firm grasp on decimals and the other is still learning—can be incredibly effective. The student who understands the concept well can reinforce their own learning by teaching it to someone else, and the student who needs help gets a different perspective on the material.

• Visual Aids and Anchor Charts: 

Creating visual aids like anchor charts can help students remember the key concepts. I always keep an anchor chart on the wall that breaks down place values and includes examples of how decimals work in real life. This way, students have a visual reference they can check whenever they’re stuck.

How to Teacher Money Concepts to Grades 1, 2, and 3

Top Questions Teachers Ask About Teaching Kids to Count Money

Today we are going to review an FAQ for teaching money standards to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students.

Before you read all of the questions and answers below, please click HERE to receive a free US coins anchor chart.

Essential FAQs for teaching money to students:

1. How can I help my students differentiate between the different coins?

• Students often struggle to recognize and distinguish between coins like nickels and dimes. What strategies can I use to make sure they can identify each coin correctly?

2.  What’s the best way to teach students to count mixed coins, especially when they  get confused switching between different values?

• My students often lose track when counting a mix of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. How can I help them stay organized and confident when counting various coin combinations?

3.  How can I make counting coins more engaging for my students?

• My students sometimes find counting coins tedious. What activities or games can I use to make the process more fun and interactive?

4.  What should I do if my students are struggling with counting by 5s, 10s, and 25s?

• Some of my students aren’t yet comfortable counting by 5s, 10s, and 25s, which makes counting coins difficult. How can I reinforce these counting skills in a way that connects with money?

5.  How can I incorporate real-life scenarios into teaching coin combinations?

• I want my students to understand how these skills apply outside the classroom. What are some effective ways to use real-world examples to teach them how to count and use coins?

Teaching tips and strategies for elementary teachers:

1. How can I help my students differentiate between the different coins?

• Start by introducing each coin individually, focusing on its size, color, and the images on both sides. Use coin sorting activities where students separate coins into groups based on these characteristics. Visual aids, such as anchor charts or posters, can reinforce the differences between coins. Additionally, engage students in hands-on activities like rubbing crayons over coins on paper to highlight their distinct features. Regular practice and repetition are key to helping students confidently identify each coin.

2.  What’s the best way to teach students to count mixed coins, especially when they get confused switching between different values?

• Begin by teaching students to count each type of coin separately, starting with the highest value (quarters) and moving to the lowest (pennies). Once they’re comfortable, introduce mixed coin combinations, emphasizing the strategy of counting in groups—first quarters, then dimes, nickels, and finally pennies. Using number lines or coin value charts can help students visualize the counting process. Practice with real-life scenarios, like making change or counting out money for a purchase, can also solidify their understanding.

3.  How can I make counting coins more engaging for my students?

• Turn coin counting into a game to make it more fun and interactive. Activities like “Coin Bingo,” where students match amounts of money to their bingo cards, or a “Classroom Store,” where they use coins to buy and sell items, can make learning more dynamic. Incorporate technology by using educational apps that focus on money skills. Additionally, integrating music or rhymes that involve counting coins can make the learning process more memorable and enjoyable for students.

4.  What should I do if my students are struggling with counting by 5s, 10s, and 25s?

• If students are having trouble with skip counting, start by reinforcing these skills without using coins. Use number lines, skip-counting songs, or visual aids like counting charts to help students become more comfortable with counting by 5s, 10s, and 25s. Once they’ve mastered these, gradually introduce coins back into the equation. Practice counting groups of nickels, dimes, and quarters separately before mixing them. Consistent practice and a gradual increase in complexity can help students build confidence and accuracy.

5.  How can I incorporate real-life scenarios into teaching coin combinations?

• Use everyday activities that students can relate to, like setting up a classroom store where they can “buy” and “sell” items using coins. You can also create mock shopping experiences with grocery store flyers, where students practice counting out the exact change for different items. Field trips to local stores or inviting guest speakers to discuss how they use money in their jobs can also provide practical, real-world context. These scenarios make counting coins more relevant and show students the value of these skills in their daily lives.

In this blog post, I’ve gathered some common questions teachers ask about teaching money skills to young students, along with practical tips to make the process easier and more engaging. Whether you're helping students recognize coins or making counting more fun, these strategies are designed to support you in the classroom. I hope you find these ideas helpful as you guide your students in learning to count money.

Please check out these free printable counting money activities and worksheets:

1. Free Counting Money Task Cards

Students love playing games with task cards. You could have a scavenger hunt or play a game of SCOOT. You will also receive 20 activity ideas.

2. Free Counting Money Cut and Paste Worksheets

Your students will have fun counting money with these free cut and paste math worksheets. Pair them with some manipulatives for hands-on learning.

Please click HERE to see math resources in my Amazon Associate store.

Please click HERE to view my Teachers Pay Teachers Promoting Success store.

Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find great resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!