The Power of Self Worth.
Self-worth is essential for both personal and professional growth, especially for those working with children and young people. It’s crucial to nurture self-worth not only in your students but also in yourself. However, maintaining self-worth can be tough—whether you’re in the classroom or balancing personal and professional expectations.
For example, when a child says, “I’ll never get this!” how you respond can significantly shape their sense of self-worth. Reassuring them that mistakes are part of learning can have a positive impact. On the flip side, educators often face their own struggles, such as when a lesson doesn’t land as hoped despite hours of preparation. In these moments, it’s easy to feel discouraged, but reminding yourself that it’s okay to have tough days can help protect your self-worth. You don’t need to be perfect every day to make an impact.
By embracing mistakes as part of the learning process and practising self-compassion, you create an environment where everyone thrives—without the pressure to be perfect. As Carl Rogers (1961) suggested, fostering an accepting environment, without judgment, is essential for developing a positive sense of self-worth.
The Influence of Pop Culture on Self Worth
Pop culture plays a significant role in how children view themselves, especially with emotional well-being being such a prevalent topic today. Many recent movies, TV shows, and books emphasise self-acceptance and self-worth.
For instance, a recent survey by Mattel and OnePoll found that kids start questioning their self-worth around age 5. This survey was associated with the return of Barney, the purple dinosaur from the 1990s, who taught kids about friendship, kindness, and self-esteem. In one new episode, Baby Bop loses her “glow” but regains it through self-affirmation by remembering what she loves about herself. This reinforces the importance of fostering self-love early to build confidence.
Similarly, the recent Wicked (2024) film explores self-worth through two different journeys. Elphaba, initially seeking validation due to her differences, learns that true self-worth comes from embracing her uniqueness. On the other hand, Glinda’s self-worth is initially based on social approval, but she soon realises that real self-worth is rooted in acceptance, kindness, and staying true to oneself. Stories like this remind us that self-worth isn’t defined by others’ opinions.
Promoting Self Worth in the Classroom
Here are a few strategies educators can use to promote self-worth:
- Affirmations: Encourage students to use identity-based affirmations like “I am capable of learning and growing” instead of comparison-based affirmations like “I am the best.” Research suggests that identity-based affirmations help maintain self-worth over time (Hoffman & Schacter, 2024).
- Mindful Feedback: Avoid linking a student’s self-worth directly to praise. Phrases like “I’m proud of you” or “You’re good at maths” can lead to reliance on external validation. Instead, focus on praising their effort and strategies. For instance, saying “I noticed how you worked through the problems step by step. That’s impressive!” reinforces that self-worth comes from their actions, not external approval (Dweck, 2006).
- Modelling Self-Compassion: Show self-compassion, which is beneficial for both you and your students. Research by Neff (2003) shows that when teachers model kindness to themselves, students are more likely to adopt similar behaviours. For example, if you make a mistake in class, you might say, “Oops, looks like I made a mistake! That happens to everyone, I can fix it and keep going!” This helps students understand that mistakes are part of learning and don’t diminish their worth. It also boosts your own self-worth by reminding you that it’s okay to be imperfect.
By focusing on both your students’ and your own self-worth, you can help foster a strong, lasting sense of value for everyone involved.
References
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
Hoffman, L., & Schacter, D. L. (2024). The power of identity-based affirmations: Implications for self-worth and resilience. Educational Psychology Review, 36(2), 197-213.
Mattel. (2024). Study on early childhood self-perception and the emergence of self-doubt. Mattel introduces all-new Barney toy line to celebrate self-love, imagination, and emotional growth. https://www.mattel.com/newsroom
Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223-250.
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin.
By Danielle Chandler