Self-esteem is the foundation of a youth’s emotional well-being. It shapes how they perceive themselves, interact with others, and approach challenges. High self-esteem empowers youth to tackle life’s difficulties with confidence, resilience, and optimism. On the other hand, low self-esteem can lead to a variety of emotional and behavioral issues, including anxiety, depression, and poor academic or social performance.
For youth facing significant life challenges—such as unstable home environments, trauma, or socioeconomic hurdles, the struggle to maintain positive self-esteem can be particularly intense. These external stressors often create internal narratives of doubt and inadequacy, making it difficult for them to see their own potential. Therefore, focusing on self-worth is not just beneficial; it is a critical intervention that provides a protective buffer against negative outcomes. Effective staff training for at-risk youth programs always emphasizes this as a primary area of focus to help disrupt cycles of hardship.
Recognizing the signs of low self-esteem is the first step, but the real work lies in implementing effective strategies to build it back up. This process is a cornerstone of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). An effective SEL curriculum for youth provides a framework designed to teach essential life skills like self-awareness and self-management. By focusing on these principles, we can equip young people with practical tools to reframe their inner dialogue, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and build a sense of agency over their own lives.
Factors that Assist in Building Self-Esteem in At-Risk Youth
1. Praise Effort, Not Just Results
This teaches youth that effort leads to growth and encourages them to take on more challenges and keep trying, even when they don’t initially succeed.
This approach is often called fostering a growth mindset. It helps shift a young person’s focus from fear of failure to a love of learning and persistence. This is a core part of building resilience in young adults, as it teaches them that their abilities are not fixed but can be developed through dedication. This simple shift in praise can fundamentally change how they view themselves and their potential for future success.
2. Encourage Positive Self-Talk
Talking to oneself matters. Positive self-talk can foster resilience. Encourage the youth to replace thoughts like “I can’t do this “with “I will keep trying until I can figure it out”. Help them reframe negative thoughts. For example, instead of saying “I always mess up”, say “What could I do differently next time to improve”. This shifts the focus from failure to problem-solving to improve.
Guiding this internal dialogue is a key part of emotional intelligence training. By helping youth reframe their thoughts, you are giving them a powerful tool for self-management and mental wellness. This practice helps rewire their brain to approach challenges with optimism rather than defeat, building a foundation of self-compassion that will support them throughout their lives. It's a skill that can be strengthened daily through consistent, gentle reminders and practice.
3. Set Realistic Expectations and Goals
Youth need to experience success. Make sure the goals set are broken into manageable steps and that you can celebrate progress along the way. This way they feel a sense of accomplishment. Don’t create overly high expectations that can cause stress and feelings of failure, while don’t underestimate their abilities because this could limit their potential.
Celebrating these "small wins" is critical for building momentum and self-efficacy. Each completed step provides tangible proof of their capability, which is a powerful antidote to feelings of helplessness. This strategy, often used in teen empowerment workshops, helps them see progress as a tangible journey rather than an overwhelming destination. It methodically builds a track record of success that they can draw confidence from when facing larger obstacles in the future.
4. Create a Supportive and Safe Environment
Encourage open communication and create a space where youth can share their feelings without fear of judgment. A young person who feels heard and understood is more likely to develop confidence in themselves and their abilities.
This concept, known as psychological safety, is the bedrock of any effective mentorship. It requires practicing active listening, not just hearing words but understanding the emotions behind them. When a young person feels validated, trust is built. This trust allows them to be vulnerable, take healthy risks, and develop a stronger sense of identity, knowing they have a secure base to return to regardless of the outcome. This is foundational for all other growth.
5. Teach Coping Skills and Resilience
Life is challenging and teaching how to cope with adversity helps them remain positive in the face of difficulties instead of being angry and aggressive.
Equipping youth with a toolkit of healthy coping mechanisms is essential. These can include practical strategies like deep breathing exercises for immediate stress relief, journaling to process complex emotions, or engaging in physical activity. Teaching these emotional regulation techniques gives them constructive alternatives to negative behaviors. This proactive approach not only builds resilience but also gives them a sense of control and agency over their emotional responses to life’s inevitable challenges.
Empowering Youth for a Brighter Future
To bring everything together, building positive self-esteem and SEL is one of the most critical interventions for helping at risk youth navigate life's challenges. By focusing on practical, supportive strategies, we can make a profound difference. Praising effort over results, encouraging positive self-talk, setting achievable goals, creating safe environments, and teaching healthy coping skills are not just small gestures; they are the foundational pillars of resilience and emotional wellbeing. These methods empower young people to build a strong sense of self-worth, giving them the confidence to overcome adversity and work toward a brighter, more successful future.
This guide serves as a set of life skills lessons for teens and younger youth, exploring five practical, evidence-based methods that mentors, educators, and caregivers can use. These techniques, often found within an evidence based life skills curriculum, are designed to create lasting positive change. From praising effort over outcomes to creating safe, supportive environments, these strategies will help set youth on a path toward lifelong resilience and success.
Take the Next Step Toward Building Self-Esteem
Give youth the tools to build confidence, resilience, and a positive mindset with these evidence-based resources from ARISE.