How to rebuild self-esteem in the new school year

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  • Quick tip 1

    Embrace “not yet.”

    It’s hard to stay motivated when you think things can’t change. Reframe the approach to challenges. Instead of thinking “I can’t do this,” think “I can’t do it yet.” 

  • Quick tip 2

    Celebrate the wins.

    Self-doubt can cloud the successes you’ve had. Take a moment to remember a past win — big or small. Think about how that win felt. This can help connect a feeling of success to facing new challenges. 

  • Quick tip 3

    Reflect on the positives.

    It’s easy to get caught up in negative thinking when you’re used to setbacks. Shift the focus from “what’s going wrong” to “what’s going well.”

  • Quick tip 4

    Talk openly about challenges.

    When someone is struggling with self-esteem, talk about things you find challenging and work to overcome. Acknowledging your own challenges helps others open up about theirs. 

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.

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