Self Esteem Journal Prompts for Kids

One of my greatest wishes as a mom is to raise confident, self-assured children who are not only kind to others but kind to themselves.  As an adult, I know the challenges of loving yourself and I also know that self-love is a pivotal piece of our wellness and growth.  Using self-esteem journal prompts is one way that you can work with your kids on self-acceptance.

I have never had a lot of self-esteem or confidence, though many would probably be surprised to hear that.  Growing up we were told how we were supposed to (or not supposed to) feel and we certainly didn’t learn about social-emotional topics in school or elsewhere.

 When I hear one of my daughters call herself stupid or get down on herself about her abilities I feel a tremendous amount of pressure to make sure that she does not have the same self-esteem challenges that I do.  And while I can’t control how she feels about herself, or the outside influences that she will encounter, I can provide her with the tools to help her work on her mindset, confidence, and self-esteem.

One of my children’s most important influences is me.  It’s my job to listen and empathize when my kids are feeling upset, sad, or discouraged.  It’s my job to teach them without shaming them, to encourage them without forcing them, and to celebrate all the small things with them.  I don’t always get it right, but I do my best.  When I don’t get it right I show them how to apologize and try better next time.

One tool we use to help improve our mindset and self-esteem is journaling.

Self Love Journal Prompts for Kids

Can journaling help with self-esteem?

Absolutely!  Teaching your children to journal from a young age will give them a strong foundation for their emotional growth.  Journaling allows your mind to develop new thought patterns and is an important outlet that allows children (and adults) to connect with their thoughts and feelings.  It’s amazing how helpful it is to get things out on paper!

The important part about journaling with children is that they often don’t have to reverse the bad thought patterns that adults do.  When we start early we can guide them towards positive patterns before it gets so hard to change them.  That being said, it’s never too late to change one’s mindset and improve self-esteem.

Self Love Journal Prompts for Kids

Here are 20 self-esteem writing exercises to use with your kids.  

  1. What is one activity that cheers you up, no matter what?
  2. What is something that you have done that you are proud of?
  3. What do you say to yourself when you have an opportunity to try something new?
  4. What does the word confidence mean to you?
  5. What do you love about yourself?
  6. How do you love yourself?
  7. What songs make you feel good?
  8. When do you feel the most confident and capable?
  9. List 5 qualities that make you unique.
  10. Write about a challenge you faced and how you became stronger because of it.
  11. What would you STOP doing if you had more confidence?
  12. What would you START doing if you had more confidence?
  13.  Why do you deserve to love yourself?
  14. How would you describe yourself to someone who has never met you?
  15. What do you do best in at school?
  16. Who are your role models? What qualities do you have in common with them?
  17. What negative things do you say to yourself a lot?  How can you reframe your thinking?
  18. How have you shown courage recently?
  19. What is one new thing you would do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
  20. Write a pep talk you can give yourself the next time you’re having a bad day.

Looking for more writing prompts?  Check out 20 Feelings Journal Prompts for Kids and Growth Mindset Activities for Kids.

We also recommend Big Life Journal for more Growth Mindset resources.