If you ask a class full of Kindergarten students, “How many of you can draw?”, they will all raise their hands.  If you ask the same question to a 7th grade class, you may get one or two affirmative responses.  If everyone could draw at 5 years old, why are they unable to draw at 12 years old?  We all know that it isn’t a case of ability.  It’s a question of perceived talent.

Young children who have not yet developed self-consciousness can unabashedly proclaim their greatness.  At 5 years old, “I can” is synonymous to “I am good at.”  Sadly, as children enter adolescence, they begin to absorb the opinions of the world over their own self-assessment.  If a tween judges herself as less than the best at something, she may deem herself unworthy of doing it.

In addition, societal norms discourage  proclamation of one’s own strengths for fear of vanity.  If gone unchecked, the effort to embody humility can lead to blatant self-depracation and self-loathing.

1. Encourage tweens to talk about their unique talents.   
2. Teach them that one does not have to be the best at something to claim it as a strength or a passion. 
3. Help tweens to expand their definition of talent beyond measurable tasks.  For example, humor and kindness are valuable traits too.

Tweens are such capable beings.  They deserve to feel it.  Help them renew the 5-year old confidence they once had.  Self-esteem can grow along with physical growth.  Just like their growing bodies, self-esteem needs to be nourished.