As infants & toddlers grow and develop, they start to form a sense of self.
This is known as self-concept, which refers to an individual’s beliefs and attitudes about themselves.
Developing a positive self-concept or self awareness is crucial for children’s mental and emotional well-being, and it can also impact their academic and social success.
Here are several self concept preschool activities for 3-5 year olds that can help young children develop a positive sense of self & self-esteem as well.
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20 Self Concept Activities for Preschoolers & Toddlers
Mirror, Mirror
This activity encourages children to explore their physical appearance and develop a sense of self-awareness.
Provide each child with a handheld mirror and ask them to describe what they see. You can prompt them with questions such as “What color are your eyes?” or “What shape is your nose?” Encourage children to notice and celebrate their unique features.
Related: Spring Bulletin Board Ideas for Preschool
All About Me Collage
Create a collage activity where each child can express themselves through pictures and words. Provide magazines, scissors, glue, and paper.
Encourage children to cut out pictures of things they like, their favorite color, their favorite food, and any other things that describe them.
Then, have them glue the pictures and words onto a piece of paper to create a unique All About Me collage.
Related: 20 Exciting All About Me Preschool Activities
Positive Self-Talk
Teaching children how to talk positively about themselves can help boost their self-esteem. Start by asking children to think of positive things about themselves.
Then, ask them to write or draw those positive things on a piece of paper. Display their positive affirmations around the classroom to serve as a reminder to children that they are unique, valuable, and loved.
Name Recognition
Using name recognition activities helps children learn to identify and recognize their own name, which is an essential part of developing a sense of self. Provide each child with a name card and encourage them to write or trace their name.
You can also use name puzzles or name matching games to help children become familiar with the letters and sounds in their name.
Emotion Recognition
Helping children identify and understand their emotions is an essential part of developing self-awareness. Use emotion recognition activities such as feeling charts, emotion cards, or emotion matching games to help children identify different emotions.
Encourage children to express their feelings and validate their emotions by acknowledging and accepting them.
My Family Tree
Children often define themselves by their family, making family activities a great way to build self-concept. Have each child create their own family tree, starting with themselves at the trunk and branching out to their parents, siblings, grandparents, and other family members.
Encourage children to share stories and memories about their family members, which can help them feel connected to their family and build a sense of identity.
Related: 20 Preschool Activities About Family
My Future Self
Helping children envision their future selves can help them develop a positive sense of self and set goals for the future. Ask each child to draw a picture of themselves in the future doing something they love or achieving a goal they have set for themselves.
Encourage them to share their picture with the class and discuss their goals and aspirations.
Self-Portraits
Self-portraits are a great way to encourage children to celebrate their physical appearance and individuality. Provide each child with a mirror and art supplies such as paper, markers, crayons, or paint.
Encourage them to draw or paint a picture of themselves, including their unique physical features.
Likes and Dislikes
Helping children identify their likes and dislikes can help them develop a stronger sense of self-identity. Provide each child with a sheet of paper and ask them to write or draw things they like and things they don’t like.
Encourage children to share their likes and dislikes with the class, which can help them understand that everyone is unique and has their own preferences.
Mindfulness Activities
Mindfulness activities can help children develop a positive self-concept by encouraging them to focus on the present moment and develop self-awareness.
Activities such as deep breathing, guided meditation, or yoga can help children become more in tune with their emotions and develop a sense of inner peace and calm.
I Can Achieve:
Create a bulletin board displaying pictures of preschoolers achieving various tasks and skills. Celebrate their accomplishments, boosting self-confidence and a positive self-concept.
Classroom Helpers:
Assign daily tasks to different children, allowing them to take on responsibilities and see themselves as valuable members of the classroom community.
My Favorite Things:
Encourage children to share their favorite toys, books, or activities with the class. This activity helps them build a positive self-concept by expressing their preferences and interests.
“When I Grow Up” Day:
Organize a day where children dress up as what they want to be when they grow up. This activity promotes career exploration and future aspirations.
Emotion Cards:
Create cards with different facial expressions representing various emotions. Have children pick a card and mimic the emotion they see, discussing when they might feel that way.
My Handprint:
Trace each child’s hand and have them decorate it with colors and patterns. Write positive adjectives that describe the child on the handprint, reinforcing positive self-identity.
Positive Affirmation Wall:
Create a wall display with positive affirmations and encouraging messages for each child. Let them add their own affirmations to the wall.
“I Like Myself” Book:
Read the book “I Like Myself” by Karen Beaumont and discuss self-acceptance and self-love with the children. Encourage them to share what they like about themselves.
“When I’m Proud of Myself” Writing:
Encourage children to write or draw about a time when they felt proud of something they achieved. Share and celebrate these accomplishments as a class.
Identity Show-and-Tell:
Organize a show-and-tell where children bring in items or pictures that represent who they are or their favorite things. Let them share with the class why these items are special to them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, developing a positive self-concept is crucial for children’s mental and emotional well-being, and it can also impact their academic and social success.
By incorporating these activities into your classroom, you can help children develop a strong sense of self-identity and self-worth that will serve them well throughout their lives.
References
- Marsh, H. W. (2010). Self-concept theory, measurement and research into practice: The role of self-concept in educational psychology. Educational Psychologist, 45(2), 82-91.
This article discusses the importance of self-concept in educational psychology and provides a theoretical framework for understanding self-concept.
- Johnson, J. E., & Maier, M. (2014). The relationship between self-concept and academic achievement in young children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 42(2), 111-117.
This study examined the relationship between self-concept and academic achievement in young children and found that children with higher self-concept scores had better academic outcomes.
- Shapka, J. D., & Keating, D. P. (2005). Effects of a social-emotional learning program on kindergarten children’s self-concept. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 20(1), 1-18.
This study evaluated the effects of a social-emotional learning program on kindergarten children’s self-concept and found that the program significantly improved children’s self-concept scores.
