Empowering Young Children

Empowering Young Children

Creativity is essential for a child’s development; however, fear of failure often hinders a child’s progression. For this reason, it is important to offer children a safe environment where they feel accepted and loved, no matter what. Fear of failure often shows up during the feedback process, when students worry about public exposure of their mistakes. Empowering young children is key. Teachers should focus on creating low stake opportunities grounded in strategies that elicit quality peer feedback. This blog post will explain in greater detail how we can help children face their fears and how overcoming these obstacles is beneficial to their development.

Ways to reduce fear of failure

Two strategies that reduce fear of failure are taking gallery walks and helping kids step outside of their comfort zone by being creative. Gallery walks allow students to engage with the class content and with other students. Getting kids creative and out of their comfort zone lets them produce work in formats that are exciting and inspiring.

Effective communication and feedback

Feedback is essential to child development because it builds a community where learning happens together and growth is encouraged. By having more frequent interactions among students, you can build trust and rapport you are empowering young children. Additionally, kids can share feedback with each other and practice using their social skills.

Creating a space where all kids feel valued

It’s important to make every kid that walks through the door feel like they belong. To encourage positive self-esteem, create a five-step lesson plan, starting with a basic definition of identity, and ending it with an identity portrait of themselves. In order for kids to grow their self-esteem, you should teach them how to accept their not-so-pleasant feelings and how to deal with them. Always encourage them and praise them for their efforts, in addition when they have done well.

Summary

Often times fear of failure shows up during the feedback process, interfering with kids’ creativity among other things. Getting kids out of their comfort zone allows them to grow and overcome obstacles. Feedback is essential to help build a community where kids learn together and from one another. Creating a space where kids feel valued and that they belong, helps build 

positive self-esteem.

This blog was created by Yaneisis Hernandez, a current Child Development Associate (CDA) student with CDAClass.org. Yaneisis resides in Ocala, Florida.