EQ&A Questions & Answers About Emotional Intelligence
	In this issue: Self Esteem
		What is self esteem?
		Where does it come from?
		What's the gender difference, and how can I help my girls with self-esteem?

	Q: What is self esteem?
		A:	Other Links:
		Self esteem is a recognition of personal worth developed through a sense of competency, efficacy, connection to others, and mutual respect. Like confidence, self esteem is tied to the ability to self-validate and act based on perception or inner voice.	Stengthening Self Esteem from Kidsource Online defines esteem and offers useful strategies. NASE offers research on WHY esteem so important.

	Q: Where does self esteem come from?
		A:	Other Links:
		Some people seem to think self esteem comes mostly from saying nice things (see "Constant praise actually can undermine self-esteem building.") Sure, nice words are nice... but esteem is actually built through efficacy in a positive environment. So, kids need opportunities to be effective, and they need help seeing how effective they are. These opportunities are easy to find if you remember some key "rules." The job should be meaningful to the child The child should have choice and power over the outcome (i.e., taking out the trash is not empowering because -- while it is important -- there are really only one way to do it). The job should have visible or measurable result(s).	The Magic Stream's Self Esteem page includes stories and links to programs & activities for building esteem. One study about esteem found Self-esteem not always linked to achievement . Instead, factors like cohesive family were most critical.

	Q: What's the gender difference, and how can I help my girls with self-esteem?
		A:	Other Links:
		Self esteem is related to relationships, and since males and females experience relationships differently, their self esteem is also different. One study found, for instance, that boys who experience early physical development tend to have higher self esteem while girls in the same situation tend to have lower self esteem. This finding has implications on the way girls and boys define themselves in relation to others. Most significantly, girls frequently suffer from a dramatic drop in self esteem as they enter adolescence.	For more about girls and self-esteem, see "A Girl's Place Is In The Universe" which provides a clear picture of girls' roles. Girlzone Welcome to Girls Incorporated Self-esteem varies among ethnic-minority girls
		For more about girls and self-esteem, see "A Girl's Place Is In The Universe"