The Gift of Self
Developing self-
concept in kids.
The
more
you
have,
the
more
you’ll
risk.
And
kids
need
to
take
RISKS
to
grow.
Don’t worry
about creating a
self-absorbed
narcissist.
That’s not going
to be a problem.
of elementary
school boys
agree with this
statement:
I’m happy the
way I am.
67
%
of
elementary
school girls
do.
60
%
By high school,the numbers
change.
46%
BOYS
29%
GIRLS
Self love, my liege,
is not so vile a sin
as self neglecting.
Shakespeare. Henry V.
9 in 10 girls say
that media and
the fashion
industry want
them to look
like her.
We can
build
self-
concept
in kids.
And it’s
actually
not that
tricky.
Here are the keys.
Key No. 1:
They must have
an unshakeable
belief in their
inherent worth.
One needs
something to
believe in,
something for
which one
can have
wholehearted
enthusiasm.
“
“
One needs to
feel that
one’s life has
meaning,
that one is
needed in
this world.
“
“
Here are some ways
to help with that.
I don't know what
your destiny will
be,but one thing I
know:
“
The only ones
among you who
will be truly happy
are those who will
have sought and
found how to serve
others.
“
albertschweitzer
Key No. 2:
Help them
recognize that
they accomplish
things of value.
READ
“THE HOBBIT”
MASTERED
ALGEBRA
PARENTS READ
TO ME
READ
BOOKS
WITH NO
PICTURES
READ
CHAPTER
BOOKS
LEARNED
TO READ
WILL READ
“WAR &
PEACE”
LIKED TO
SING
SILLY
SONGS
STARTED
PIANO
LESSONS
GOT BETTER
AT
SIGHT-
READING
GOT A
KEYBOARD
&
PLAYED
GOT
MY OWN
IPOD
WILL PLAY
“TRAUMEREI” &
LEARN LEFT HAND
BETTER
LIKED TO
SORTTOYS AND
PLAY GAMES
BEGIN TO
LOVE
FRACTIONS
MULTIPLY
&
DIVIDE
LEARNED
TO DO
BASIC MATH
WILLTAKE
AP
CALCULUS
CREATE TIMELINES OF
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
CREATE A
PRIDE LINE
“I WAS PROUD
OF MYSELF
WHEN I…”
DEVELOP
PRIDE
IN THINGS
THAT ARE
SPECIFIC
DEVELOP
PRIDE
IN ACTIONS
NOT
QUALITIES
DISPLAY
SUCCESS
SYMOLS
KEEP IN MIND:
ONE
MAN’S
ANOTHER
MAN’S
=
Key No. 3:
Help them
connect with
others.
PEN PALS
*TRY POSTCROSSING.COM
HELP THEM
FIND FRIENDS.
EVEN JUST
ONE.
Key No. 4:
Help them
understand the
role of practice
and effort.
IT AIN’T EASY,
AND DON’T LET‘EM
THINK IT IS.
If they think it
should come easily
because they are
smart,
they will become
discouraged and
begin to doubt
themselves.
Our doubts are
traitors, and make
us lose the good
we oft
might win by
fearing to attempt.
William Shakespeare
Measure for Measure
Teach them
the role of
deliberate
practice.
*see work of Anders Ericcson
I can golf
every
weekend
and not get
better.
To get
better,
I have to
be motivated
to improve
get
immediate
feedback
perform the same
or similar tasks.
again and again
try the same
thing different
ways
not expect to
enjoy the
practice
itself all of
the time
That which we persist in
doing becomes easier, not
that the task itself has
become easier, but that our
ability to perform it has
improved. Emerson
“
“
Key No. 5:
Teach them
to trust their
intuition.
Blink…
and you
don’t
miss it.
this
paid
$10,000,000
for
this.
now they
think
it
might
be
fake.
Oops.
Trust
your
gut.
Key No. 6:
Know the perils
of praise.
DANGER!
PRAISE FOR
BEING NOT
DOING AHEAD!
When you praise
everything,
you’re really
praising nothing.
If you praise, do
it for things they
do, not who they
are.
Praise effort,
not perceived
ability.
Say,“I’m noticing
how hard you’re
working on that.”
Not,“You’re so
smart.”
Now you have these.
Please feel free to use
them on any kid you meet.
Click here
If you want to
know more.
Credit Love
Thispresentation was inspired by 100 Ways to EnhanceSelf-Conceptby
Jack Canfield. Although I read the very old edition, a newer one is
available. Several of the ideas contained here are tweaks of ideas in this
book.
The ideas regarding Ericsson’swork and the importance of intuition were
inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’sbooks Outliers and Blink, respectively.
Photo credits:
All photos except those noted below are from iStockPhoto& sxc.hu.
Slide15 – TotallyFred (Flickr)
Slide38 – Erik Plomp: www.ervaarmarketing.nl
Getty – Jelson25 (Wikipediauser)
Kouros – Dorli Burge

Gift of Self: Developing Effective Self-Concept in Gifted Learners