One way of helping children build and grow self-esteem is to reward them for their achievements as often as possible. Geographics Award Certificates are a fine and affordable way to do just that. Add the certificates and foil seals to your family toolkit and start expressing healthy doses of appreciation for your children and other family members.

Kids need to feel acknowledged for who they are and recognized for their strengths, knowledge or skills. These are undeniable human needs. Regardless of age, people need to feel “seen”, appreciated and valued. This is even more crucial for children. It is a fact that a child who grows up feeling appreciated, loved and supported will become a confident, stable and mature adult.

Set up a strategy. Plan on how often to reward your children, what kind of behaviors you want to encourage in them, or achievements to acknowledge, etc. Ideally, you want to encourage good behavior and award them with a diploma or Award Certificate regularly, perhaps once a week or once a month.

The key is to be intentional, credible and relevant. Start by holding a family meeting and tell kids that, for the next few months, you will award them for things that you are listing – to be in plain sight – the fridge would be a great place for it. The list could include being organized and keeping the space clean and orderly, completing homework in time and well, helping with chores, being on good behavior for a specific amount of time (increase it slowly until they get in the habit), getting good results in school, showing courage by getting over something they fear, etc.

This exercise shouldn’t become a competition between siblings but a way for everyone to feel appreciated for what is unique about them, for creating good habits and overcoming obstacles, trying out new things and growing into healthy and successful teenagers and adults.

You can award children for things like:
– Helping a younger sibling with homework – you could set up a monthly “Family Helper Award”;
– Making an effort to improve in a subject that they have difficulties with – like spending an extra 10 minutes every evening working on the subject, Hard Work Award
– Being organized – going to bed and waking up at the right time each day;
– Cleaning their room and keeping it organized for a week;
– Showing courage by raising their hand in class, expressing themselves in polite ways, etc

You could have a conversation with your children’s teachers and craft a strategy together, looking at reinforcing strengths and improving weaknesses. They will certainly appreciate your involvement and welcome the partnership.

Focus on what matters most and update the goals in your strategy, as kids develop new skills and behavior.

You can order affordable, high quality Printable Award Certificates from Geographics. Choose between classic designs like the best seller Optima Gold Award Certificate or more playful School Certificates like the Chalkboard School Certificate.

To print them easily or for for inspiration and ideas, search Geographics Free Templates, Clip art and Wording.
Encourage children to show off their most precious awards by hanging them on a wall in their room or set up a Family Award Wall, check out the Frames & Plaques for Certificates and Awards section.

Take this to work, with employees if you have a managerial role, or at school if you are a teacher.