The 40 Developmental Assets: Asset 38: Self Esteem
A Season for Belonging and Belief:
The holiday season naturally invites reflection, connection, and gratitude. It’s also one of the most powerful times of year to nurture
Search Institute’s Developmental Asset 38: Self-Esteem. When young people feel truly valued—when they sense that they matter to their family, school, and community—they begin to believe in their own worth. During the holidays, small moments make a big difference: a teen helping prepare a meal, a child being asked to share a favorite tradition, or a young person hearing, “I’m proud of who you’re becoming.” These experiences reinforce belonging. And belonging, especially during a season centered on togetherness, helps strengthen genuine self-esteem.
Here are the facts:
Research shows that young people who feel good about themselves have positive relationships with parents and peers, increased academic achievement, and a decreased susceptibility to negative peer pressure. Loving yourself is as important as loving other people. About 49 percent of young people, ages 11–18, report having high self-esteem, according to Search Institute surveys. Telling and showing young people you accept and value who they are helps them to feel good about themselves.
Holiday Traditions that Build this asset:
High self-esteem doesn’t simply appear as young people grow—it is
taught, modeled, and reinforced by the adults around them. Children and teens build confidence by watching how adults treat them, how adults treat others, and how adults manage challenges. Self-esteem deepens when youth have opportunities to practice these values. Volunteering, helping a sibling, contributing to family traditions, or showing leadership at school builds a sense of purpose and confidence.
In your home and family: Celebrate strengths, not stuff – shift the focus away from gifts and toward qualities you appreciate – kindness, effort, creativity, humor, responsibility. Ask them to help choose a menu or plan an activity.
In your school, neighborhood and community: Create opportunities to give – acts of care: writing cards, shoveling a neighbor’s sidewalk, donating to a local drive help young people feel capable and compassionate. Let young people see you making mistakes, apologizing, trying again, and showing appreciation. Adults who model growth mindset set the foundation for long term self-esteem.
Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit
https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/developmental-assets-framework.
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2017 Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people.