Today’s world is filled with social media pressures and expectations, so developing a healthy self-esteem in our children is more important than ever. Positive self-image and self-confidence are key ingredients for mental health, resilience, and personal growth and the earlier we start building up these important qualities in our children, the better.
Our free self-esteem worksheets offer a great way to introduce kids to self-esteem activities and provide visual reminders of their positive qualities and personal strengths. These worksheets are designed to encourage children to reflect on their achievements, appreciate their unique traits, and recognize the power of positive thinking and affirmations, and can be used in the classroom or at home.
Let’s explore each page and how these worksheets can support healthy self-esteem in kids, helping them embrace who they are.
Printable Self-Esteem Activities for Kids
These self-esteem worksheets are ideal for children from 1st grade to middle school, although they can be adapted for younger or older kids depending on their needs and abilities.
For younger children, you might need to guide them through each activity and help them articulate their thoughts, especially in activities focused on personal strengths and positive self-talk. Older children, such as middle school students, can use these worksheets more independently, diving deeper into reflection and setting personal goals.
You can download a PDF including all 8 of these self esteem worksheet pages at the end of this blog post.
First, let’s run through all the difference pages and activities.
I Am Kind Worksheet
This page encourages kids to reflect on acts of kindness, both big and small, and provides them with a space to write why they consider themselves kind.
This self-reflection helps combat negative thoughts by focusing on positive attributes and qualities, building a sense of confidence. Kindness is a powerful tool for positive psychology, teaching kids to recognize the impact they have on others and fostering a healthy sense of self-esteem.
I Am Smart Worksheet
This worksheet allows kids to identify moments when they felt smart, whether from solving a problem, learning a new skill, or helping someone.
Positive statements about their intelligence support self-confidence and provide a space for positive self-talk. By reflecting on these accomplishments, kids build a growth mindset, appreciating that learning and problem-solving contribute to their sense of self-worth.
I Am Strong Worksheet
Physical and emotional strength are highlighted in this worksheet, which allows kids to write about their strengths. Recognizing their resilience and ability to overcome challenges is key to building self-esteem.
Positive words and affirmations about strength help counter negative self-talk and strengthen their emotional bucket, encouraging kids to feel proud of their ability to face obstacles.
Compliment Circle Worksheet
The compliment circle encourages kids to give and receive genuine compliments among peers or family members. It’s a great way to practice positive feedback and reinforce personal strengths, fostering positive social skills.
Compliment circles are often used in school counseling or social emotional learning lessons as a way to build a positive experience in group settings.
Self-Esteem Daily Journal Worksheet
A daily journal page allows kids to note accomplishments, challenges, and things they love about themselves.
Keeping a gratitude journal like this helps develop a positive outlook and focuses on the positive things in life. This activity is perfect for fostering a growth mindset, encouraging kids to see challenges as opportunities for learning, and reinforcing a healthy sense of self-esteem.
Mirror Self Portrait Worksheet
This worksheet invites kids to draw a self-portrait and list their favorite traits. It’s a fun activity that fosters self-love and encourages kids to appreciate their unique qualities.
By recognizing what they love about themselves, kids can build a positive self-image and strengthen their personal identity. This is a valuable exercise for nurturing a sense of self-worth and combating negative beliefs.
I Am Amazing Speech Bubbles Worksheet
Using speech bubbles, this worksheet encourages kids to write down affirmations about why they are amazing.
Positive affirmations are essential to building self-esteem, replacing negative thoughts with positive statements. This activity promotes positive self-talk and gives kids a creative space to celebrate their personal strengths.
Positive Traits and Goal-Setting Worksheet
This page lists various positive traits and allows kids to select ones they’d like to focus on. They can set goals and outline steps for building these traits, a process that nurtures self-confidence and goal-setting skills.
Setting personal goals for self-improvement fosters critical thinking and encourages kids to take charge of their growth, reinforcing the importance of a healthy self-esteem and a positive self-image.
Kids genuinely enjoy these activities because they combine fun and creativity with meaningful self-reflection.
Each page is designed with vibrant colors and engaging illustrations, making the worksheets feel more like a playful exercise than a lesson.
For example, the “I Am Amazing” speech bubbles give kids a chance to get creative with colors, words, and doodles, while the “Mirror Self Portrait” taps into their artistic side, allowing them to create a personal representation. These interactive elements make the worksheets appealing and help children express themselves in different ways.
Another reason kids enjoy these worksheets is that they offer a safe space for self-expression without the pressure of grades or evaluations. Unlike traditional academic tasks, these worksheets encourage children to explore their feelings and thoughts openly.
Whether they’re completing these activities on their own, with a family member, or as part of a small group in a classroom, kids often feel empowered as they articulate positive things about themselves. This supportive environment can be especially beneficial for kids who may struggle with self-doubt or negative beliefs about their abilities.
Using these worksheets regularly can also help develop a new habit of positive thinking. As kids repeatedly engage in these exercises, they start to internalize the affirmations and positive feedback they give themselves, which can lead to lasting positive changes.
These small but powerful activities can lay the foundation for a healthy self-esteem and foster a resilient mindset, which is invaluable as they grow and face various challenges in life.
Incorporating these self-esteem worksheets at the end of the school year can also be a wonderful way for children to reflect on their achievements and growth over the year. It provides them with a sense of closure, allowing them to look back at what they’ve accomplished and feel proud.
This reflection process can enhance their sense of self-worth and self confidence, especially as they prepare to transition into the next grade or new experiences.
Download Kids Self-Esteem Worksheets PDF
You can download this free self-esteem worksheets PDF to use at home, in school counseling sessions, or for social emotional learning activities in group settings. Each page offers a unique approach to building self-esteem and provides visual reminders for kids about their strengths, positive qualities, and the importance of positive thinking.
Terms of use: These self esteem activities are free for personal use and classroom use, not for commercial use.
More Printable Activities for Kids
Looking for more printable activities for kids? Our collection of printable crafts and activities are designed to engage young minds and promote creativity and self-expression.
- Printable vision board for goal setting
- Emotions coloring pages
- Emotions playdough mats
- Printable mini gratitude journal
More Self-Esteem Resources
If you’re interested in more self-esteem resources, that inspire creativity and personal growth? We have several guides and activities that can support your kids in building a positive self-image and embracing their individuality, as well as developing emotional awareness, self regulation and all kinds of beneficial developmental skills. These self esteem activities and resources can be integrated into lesson plans or used independently to reinforce a growth mindset and foster a healthy self-esteem.
- Signs of low self-esteem and how to combat
- Boost your child’s confidence by embracing individuality
- Emotional Regulation Strategies
- Teach your child responsibility without shame
If you found these self esteem worksheets helpful, please consider sharing this post with friends, family, or in your social circles to spread the message of self-love and confidence-building for kids.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
I do not see a download option for these printable self esteem activities.
Hi Melissa, it’s under the heading download pdf, directly under where it says terms of use