Questions to ask about self-awareness:

Understanding Emotions:

How can I help my child identify their emotions?
How can I create a safe space for my child to express their feelings?

Building Self-Esteem:

What are some age-appropriate ways to teach my child about positive self-talk?
How can I help my child develop a growth mindset?

Developing Social Skills:

What are some strategies for teaching my child effective communication skills?
How can I encourage my child to build strong, supportive friendships?

Goal Setting and Decision Making:

What are some effective ways to teach my child decision-making skills?
How can I help my child break down big goals into smaller, manageable steps?

Practicing Self-Care:

What are some simple mindfulness activities I can do with my child?
What are some strategies for reducing stress and anxiety in children?

Get A PDF Copy of These Questions & Exercises

Exercises to improve Self-Awareness:

Emotion Charades:

Take turns acting out different emotions without speaking and the other person tries to guess the emotion.

Discuss how different emotions feel physically and emotionally.

Strengths and Weaknesses Worksheet:

Create a worksheet with two columns: "Strengths" and "Weaknesses" and encourage your child to list them honestly. 

Discuss how they can improve their weaknesses and build upon their strengths.

Journaling:

Encourage your child to write about their thoughts and feelings.

Journaling can help them process emotions and gain self-awareness.

Mindful Breathing Exercises:

Guide your child through a simple breathing exercise, focusing on their breath. It helps to find a calm quiet place to do this.

This can help you child calm their mind and become more present.

Future Self Letter:

Have your child write a letter to their future self including their hopes, dreams, and goals.

This exercise can help them visualize their future and set positive intentions.

Meet the Course Creator,
Dr. Kymberli Barker

Dr. Barker is the single mother of two fantastic young men, and they are her priority in life. She holds degrees in biochemistry, math, forensics, and psychology. She is a consultant and a professor at multiple colleges, teaching with the Citadel, and Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, in psychology, criminal justice, and neuroscience and providing international educator training. Her psychology specializations are police, the US Military, and first responders. Her personal focus is child advocacy. She developed the Guardian ad Litem/(GAL)/CASA program for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and is tribally and state sworn as a GAL. She lives at the beach with her newly adopted puppy and they both love playing in the water. Her favorite thing is being a mom.