Reflection and the Developmental Potential of Children

As the first year of life ends and the second year begins, children's self-confidence develops. They begin to discover their own will and recognize themselves as independent beings. This self-awareness, which includes the awareness that their own body, mind and activities are different from those of others, is an important milestone in the development of healthy self-confidence. Our goal as parents and educators should be to promote this self-confidence so that the child gains confidence in their own abilities and recognizes their own value as an individual. It is often assumed that praise alone is enough to develop healthy self-esteem. But praise and criticism from outside evaluate children's actions and thus influence their self-image. In children in particular, this external evaluation can lead to them losing their sense of their own feelings and needs. They begin to conform to the standards and expectations of their caregivers and are strongly guided by their judgments. It is therefore crucial to give children the opportunity to find out for themselves who they are and what is good for them. Promoting self-confident and independent action is an essential part of this development. Children should learn to assess their successes and failures independently, instead of relying solely on external feedback. Self-confidence and self-esteem are the foundations of personal success. When dealing with our children, we should therefore focus on strengthening these qualities. When they enter kindergarten, children begin to look at their own impulses from a certain distance. They learn to reflect on their actions and their consequences. This ability to reflect is the key to children being able to decide independently what they want to do. The better a child learns to reflect on themselves and their actions, the more successfully they will be able to deal with everyday situations and make their own, well-founded decisions. The ability to reflect on themselves and their own actions is crucial for a child's self-confidence because it lays the foundation for a realistic and stable self-image. When a child learns to understand their behavior and the consequences of their actions, they develop a deeper understanding of who they are, what they can do and how they affect their environment.

 

Autonomy and independence : Through reflection, the child is enabled to make decisions independently instead of relying solely on the opinions of others. He learns to develop his own standards and to become less dependent on external influences.

Sense of responsibility : A reflective child recognizes that he or she is responsible for his or her own actions. This awareness promotes a healthy sense of responsibility and helps the child to better assess consequences and act accordingly.

Conflict resolution and resilience : Children who are good at self-reflection are better at resolving conflicts and dealing with failure. They understand that setbacks are part of the learning process and can grow from them instead of becoming discouraged.

Self-confidence : When a child has a realistic assessment of his or her strengths and weaknesses, this builds self-confidence. He or she knows what he or she is good at and recognizes areas where he or she can improve, leading to a balanced and positive self-esteem.

Social skills : The ability to reflect also contributes to the development of social skills. Children who can reflect on themselves are often better at understanding the perspectives of others and acting empathetically. This promotes healthy relationships and strengthens social self-confidence.