Self-esteem is growth!
And in the early elementary grades, the framework for self-esteem begins to form.


As a child's world expands during elementary school, they begin to interact with others and gradually become aware of themselves and discover themselves.
At this time, how you perceive yourself as a person has a decisive impact on your self-esteem.
Yet, in reality, our elementary school children experience loss of self-esteem every day and are hurt by failure and frustration.
At home and at school, parents and teachers try to boost their children's self-esteem, but most of the time, their efforts end up in vain.
Why is that?

Children attend school approximately 190 days out of 365.
The remaining 175 days are spent at home.
Half of the year is spent at school, and the other half is spent at home, where most of the time is spent.
No matter how much teachers prioritize self-esteem education at school, if parents do not know exactly what self-esteem is, self-esteem will inevitably repeat a vicious cycle of rising and then falling again.
Many parents believe that if they simply praise their children, encourage their talents, and shower them with love, their self-esteem will increase.
First, we need to learn more about self-esteem.
Self-esteem will grow rapidly if we acknowledge the self-existence that allows us to realize that we are here, help our children face themselves, and even look after our children when they are in trouble.


This book is closer to a 'child psychology education book on self-esteem' than an educational book.
Based on examples of children's struggles with self-esteem observed directly by homeroom teachers in the classroom, this book provides parents with practical tips on how to boost the self-esteem of our elementary school children and help even shy children speak confidently.
Self-esteem, as expressed by elementary school children, is simple.
The secret to building elementary school self-esteem can be found surprisingly close by, with elementary school teachers.
This book will serve as a solid foundation for all parents who are striving to nurture their children's self-esteem, while also helping them revive their own forgotten self-esteem.

Usually we think of 'self-esteem' as 'self-respect'.
‘No matter what anyone says, never lose respect for yourself’, of course, that’s a very important thing.
But before that, there is something you need to know.
‘Self-esteem’ does not simply mean ‘self-respect.’
More fundamentally, a sense of self-existence must be formed.
It is difficult for ‘self-esteem’ to grow without ‘self-existence’ being formed.
A good foundation called ‘self-existence’ must be established for ‘self-esteem’ to take root.
So, I simplify the algorithm for self-esteem as follows:
Self-esteem = self-existence + self-esteem --- p.17

By the time they reach middle elementary school or higher, the homeroom teacher will be able to clearly distinguish between students who are proactive and do things well within a month and students who are bored and don't know what to do.
A proactive child does not necessarily mean he or she will be able to concentrate well in class.
If it's a topic you already know everything about or aren't currently interested in, you might sneak a book out during class or diligently work on an unfinished assembly.
But still, I feel relieved when I see a child like that.
At least you're doing something for yourself.
These children have one thing in common: they have a strong sense of self-esteem.
To put it simply, having strong self-esteem means knowing where you stand right now.
You know where you are on your goals, and therefore you can proactively decide what and how much more you need to do, or whether you can take a break.
--- p.65

Sometimes I interview parents who are concerned that their child's 'self-esteem' seems low.
Most of the time, they complain that they don't know why their children are like this even though they praise them a lot to build their self-esteem.
Every time that happens, I give this answer.
“Praise is important.
And it is also important to raise your children's spirits.
But there is something that must come first.
Care must be taken not to violate established rules and boundaries in an irregular manner.
If you're in a situation where you feel like you're going to fall apart, look into each other's eyes for no reason.
Please look at me often with the same gaze you used to look at your child sleeping like an angel.
That's enough.
Only then will the child feel a stable sense of self-existence.
Only after you fill yourself with presence will you be ready to sprout 'respect'.
The more you try to build respect hastily, the more frustrating and difficult it becomes.
First of all, please look at it often.
That's the priority." --- p.103~104

In fact, feeling a sense of presence is a journey similar to enjoying small happiness.
It's not something grand, but it's about truly enjoying the feeling of doing something.
Although many elementary school students feel themselves in the present moment, living in the small and trivial things, they often strangely conclude that they have no presence.
The reason is that elementary school children do not attach much importance to small presences.
There is a deeply ingrained perception that unless you win a gold medal in a school competition or get exceptionally high test scores, you are just considered to be of average standing.
This is not something you thought of yourself, but rather something that was instilled in you by others.
--- p.169~170

Of course, children need appropriate prohibitions and rules as they grow.
However, if this prohibition or censorship is overwhelmingly present within the child, the child will not be able to properly recognize his or her own feelings and state.
They live each day only by watching the censor's face or receiving the censor's approval.
Naturally, the child's ego becomes weak.
We must not overlook the fact that the social personality that emerges through parents' thorough self-management can suffocate the children in the family.
As you enter the front door of your house, you have to unbutton one or two buttons that are up to your neck.
In that leisure, the presence of children raises its head.

--- p.203