Define self-concept and self-esteem. In what ways might parents foster these aspects of self-understanding in young children?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Self-concept is the set of attributes, abilities, attitudes, and values that an individual believes defines who he or she is. Preschoolers' self-concepts largely consist of observable characteristics, such as their name, physical appearance, possessions, and everyday behaviors. They also describe themselves in terms of typical emotions and attitudes, such as "I'm happy when I play with my friends." A warm, sensitive parent–child relationship seems to foster a more positive, coherent self-concept. Additionally, elaborative reminiscing that focuses on children's internal states plays an especially important role in early self-concept development.
Self-esteem includes the judgments an individual makes about his or her own worth and the feelings associated with those judgments. Preschoolers have several self-judgments, but young children lack the cognitive maturity necessary to develop a global sense of self-esteem. They are not yet able to assimilate the judgments of other people, and they cannot combine information about their competencies in different domains. Thus, their self-appraisals are fragmented. Also, because they have difficulty distinguishing between their desired and their actual competence, they usually rate their own ability as extremely high and often underestimate difficulty. Parents who patiently encourage their children while offering information about how to succeed inspire enthusiasm and motivation.