Self Esteem Activities For Kids ( Build The Bear Confidence)

Explore these self esteem activities for kids!

As a parent, one of the most important things I’ve ever done for my children is helping them build their confidence.

Early on, I noticed that my son would shy away from new challenges or be overly critical of himself. So, I started introducing simple, playful activities to help him understand how special and capable he truly is.

This Build-the-Bear Confidence Worksheet was one of the first self-esteem tools we used, and let me tell you, it truly made a profound impact on him.

Today, I’m excited to share this free printable with you!

It’s a one-page activity that gently encourages kids to explore their strengths in a way that’s creative and fun.

Plus, I’ll walk you through what self-esteem activities are, how to teach positive self-talk, and more ideas to support your child’s confidence.

Let’s dive in!

SCROLL TO THE END TO SNAG YOUR FREE CONFIDENCE BUILDING ACTIVITY!

What Are Self-Esteem Activities For Kids?

Self-esteem activities are tools and experiences designed to help kids:

• Recognize their strengths

• Feel good about who they are

• Develop a healthy inner voice

• Believe in their ability to try, fail, and try again

When kids engage in self-esteem-boosting activities, they’re learning to look inward with kindness instead of criticism. Which I believe deep in my core is the most powerful gift we can give our kids today. Especially in a world full of comparison and pressure,

For children between the ages of 4 and 8, the most effective self-esteem activities are:

• Visual (like coloring or drawing)

• Simple and age-appropriate

• Positive-focused (celebrating what they can do, not what they can’t yet)

• Emotionally safe (no pressure, just encouragement)

This is exactly what the Build-the-Bear confidence worksheet is designed to do.

The Build-the-Bear Confidence Activity

This free confidence-building printable worksheet invites your child to create their very own confidence bear. A.K.A themselves. 

Here’s how it works:

Name the Bear – Your child will give the bear a name, helping your child form a connection. They might name it something strong like “Brave Barry” or something silly like “Kind Koala.” Or, maybe give it their name. Maybe!

Write or Dictate What the Bear Does Well – This bear is BRAVE when… (e.g., trying something new)

This bear is KIND when… (e.g., sharing with a friend). This bear NEVER GIVES UP when…(e.g., learning to zip his coat up.)

Color the Bear –  Once kids are finished with the writing part of the activity. They can make the bear look just like them.

This activity encourages kids to think about positive traits they already have. It also helps them see those strengths as normal and worth celebrating.

Tip: As your child fills out the worksheet, ask open-ended questions like, “When have you been kind like your bear?” This reinforces the idea that these traits live inside them, too.

How To Teach Kids Positive Self-Talk?

This can be an entirely new blog post. But, I will drizzle in a bit of positive self-talk here too.

Positive self-talk is that inner voice that says, “I can do this,” or “It’s okay to make a mistake.” And just like any skill, it’s something we teach and model.

Here are a few ways to help your child develop a kind, confident inner voice:

Use Affirmations in Daily Life

Write or say simple affirmations together, like:

• “I am brave.”

• “I try my best.”

• “I am loved no matter what.”

Hang these up near the bathroom mirror or backpack hook for easy daily reminders. And if you have not done so yet, please consider grabbing my free positive affirmation printables for kids. 

Model It Yourself

When you face challenges, let your child hear you reframe your thinking:

• “This is tricky, but I’m going to keep trying.”

• “I’m proud of myself for not giving up.”

It may feel weird at first, but trust me, they are looking at you. Plus, it helps you to be kind to yourself as well!

Correct Negative Talk Gently

My son would almost always want to give up when things get tough. So if your child is like my son and says,“ I’m not good at this.”  Try responding with,

• “You’re still learning! It’s okay to need more practice.”

• “Remember how your bear never gives up?”

Other Confidence-Boosting Activities For Kids

If you’re looking to build a small toolkit of go-to confidence boosters, here are a few kid-tested favorites:

Self-Portrait with Positive Words – Have your child draw themselves and write (or dictate) 3–5 words that describe them around the picture: strong, helpful, funny, kind.

“I Did It!” Jar – Use a small jar and let your child drop in a marble or token every time they try something new, show kindness, or don’t give up. It turns growth into a visual celebration.

Confidence Crown – Cut out a paper crown and let your child decorate it with the phrase “I AM AMAZING” and reasons why they rock.

Acts of Kindness Checklist – Confidence grows when kids know they can make a difference. Help them brainstorm and complete small acts of kindness like:- smiling at a classmate, helping a sibling, or making a thank-you card, etc.

Want More Self-Esteem Activities?

If your child enjoyed the Build-the-Bear Confidence Worksheet, you’ll love my full Self-Esteem Activities Pack for Kids available on Etsy!

Check it out here on Etsy

This printable set includes:

• Positive me poem

• I am a superstar

• I am special

• Confidence-building jar

• and more!

It’s a complete toolkit to help your kids recognize their worth and build emotional strength, all in fun, hands-on ways.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, counselor, or homeschooler, these resources make it easy to sprinkle confidence-building moments into everyday life.

Download Your Free Build The Bear Worksheet

Click on the link below to snag your free self-esteem-building activity.

Self Esteem Activity For Kids (31 downloads )

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Self-Esteem Activities For Kids

Helping our kids believe in themselves starts with the small moments, when we sit down with a crayon and a worksheet.

When we ask, “What makes you proud today?” or when we remind them, “You are brave just like your bear.”

The Build-the-Bear confidence activity is just one of many ways to open the door to meaningful self-talk and emotional growth.

And the best part? Kids love it because it feels like play, not a lesson.

Try it out today and let your child discover that they already have everything they need inside them to be confident, kind, and resilient.

You’ve got this, and so do they.

You May Also Like These Blog Posts

Here are some more fun activities to help your kids build confidence and regulate their emotions:

• Free growth mindset activity mat for kids
• Free printable growth mindset coloring pages
• Growth mindset word search free printable
• The power of specific praises for kids

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