Strengthening Confidence in Young Individuals
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Children begin to shape their self-images early in life, and adults can play a crucial role in helping them develop their strengths. This is particularly true in the unique environment of 4-H, where youth have the opportunity to explore over 215 different project titles, numerous leadership opportunities, specialty camps, trainings, and clinics.
The Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet on self-esteem in 4-H has been revised based on the original work of Cripe, B. (1999), Kleon, S. and Wilson, C. (2007). This revision emphasises the importance of deliberate steps taken by 4-H leaders to build self-esteem in youth.
Trust is the foundation of all human relationships and essential for a well-developed sense of self-esteem. 4-H leaders can build trust by creating a supportive and safe environment where youth feel accepted and valued, enabling them to take risks and express themselves freely.
Self-awareness emerges in adolescence, and 4-H leaders can encourage positive self-talk and self-awareness by helping youth develop a constructive inner dialogue. This can be achieved through daily affirmations and self-reflection activities that reinforce their strengths and values.
Belonging, or feeling accepted by others, also helps nurture self-esteem. 4-H leaders should make an effort to recognise and celebrate the personal bests of their members, such as great attendance, extra time invested in a service project, progress on a project book, a camp scholarship, or a risk a member may have taken (running for an officer position or presenting a demonstration).
Success in accomplishing objectives can lead to the development of problem-solving skills and a sense of pride. 4-H leaders should set achievable goals and celebrate success, emphasising effort and progress rather than perfection. This includes recognising personal bests and milestones to build mastery and confidence.
A person with healthy self-esteem is more likely to be self-motivated, self-reliant, and able to maintain respectful and fulfilling relationships. Purpose or a sense of mission in life is an important part of self-esteem development. 4-H leaders can facilitate this by allowing youth to explore diverse activities that inspire intrinsic motivation and provide experiences of accomplishment and joy.
Mahatma Gandhi once said that people often become what they believe themselves to be, emphasising the importance of adult leaders communicating a feeling of self-worth to youth. Volunteer leaders in 4-H can have a profound effect on the development of a child's self-esteem.
4-H leaders can effectively build positive self-esteem in youth by intentionally fostering trust, self-awareness, belonging, purpose, success, personal bests, mastery, and passion discovery through deliberate, stepwise approaches. By integrating these focused steps, 4-H leaders create an environment where youth experience trust, develop self-esteem grounded in authentic achievement, and discover their unique passions and purpose.
References include academic sources such as The Journal of the National Medical Association, State University of New York Press, National Academy Press, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and ParentLink (2007) from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
In 4-H, leaders should focus on helping members develop a "path to mastery" rather than solely on the results of competitions. 4-H club leaders should help youth discover areas they find themselves passionate about and provide opportunities for them to explore those areas. By doing so, 4-H leaders contribute to the formation of a child's self-esteem alongside parents, teachers, coaches, and other mentors.
- By fostering trust, self-awareness, belonging, purpose, success, personal bests, mastery, and passion discovery, 4-H leaders can help youth develop a strong self-esteem that is grounded in authentic achievement.
- In the process of cultivating a "path to mastery" in 4-H, leaders encourage personal growth and education-and-self-development by helping members discover their unique passions and talents, thereby contributing to their overall self-esteem.
