How to rebuild self-esteem in the new school year

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Kids across the United State have experienced a major academic slide since COVID began. But certain student groups have lost ground more than others. That includes kids with learning challenges.

Starting a new school year being behind can be hard for kids who’ve faced setbacks and worked hard to improve. They may feel defeated by further losses and think there’s no reason to keep trying.

If your child has fallen behind, you might feel defeated, too. You may worry that your child won’t easily recover from these setbacks, academically or emotionally. 

But there are ways you can help your child regain self-esteem and stay motivated, even with the COVID academic slide.

It can be hard for kids to see how skills can improve, especially after a series of challenges. But having a growth mindset helps them move past setbacks and have more faith in their abilities. 

Kids with a growth mindset believe that skills can get better with work and support. They’re more confident that they can find solutions and make progress.

Growth mindset isn’t about feeling good. It’s about learning from experiences and working to make things better.

Self-advocacy means being able to communicate your needs. It’s an empowering skill for kids (and adults), and it can play a big role in building self-esteem.

Asking for help might feel like a sign of weakness. But self-advocacy allows kids to find solutions. Knowing how to get support so they can do their best is a confidence booster. 

Learn more about self-advocacy and how to develop it. 

Setbacks don’t have to erode self-esteem. In fact, they can help build it. Facing obstacles can create opportunities. It lets kids discover strengths and find new ways to approach problems. And it helps build resilience, an important skill for coping with challenges.

Doing well isn’t always about results. The process of finding solutions and improving skills can be just as important as the outcome.

Find out about strengths that come out of challenges.