36 Fun Self-Esteem Activities & Games for Kids / Teens (Free PDF Included)

Self-Esteem Activities and Games for Kids and Teens:
How to Build Confidence in Kids

There are lots of easy ways for parents and educators to help children boost their confidence. There are also plenty of self-esteem activities for kids and teens that are fun and engaging.

Building positive self-esteem and confidence is important to the child and teen development. It helps them become more emotionally resilient and cope better with stress and life challenges.  But, how can we build confidence in our kids?

Self-esteem activities for kids can help us with this task. In this article, you’ll find a comprehensive list of self-esteem games, activities, and crafts for kids and teens, including a free printable PDF with self-esteem worksheets that you can download at the end.

But in order to identify the best way to help your child or teen (or student), it is important first to understand what self-esteem is.

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Self-concept and self-esteem definitions

Self-concept and self-esteem are two closely related concepts. Self-concept is the representation we construct of ourselves, after assessing our competence in different areas in our lives (interpersonal, sports, work, etc.). In simple words, self-concept is what we think about ourselves

Self-esteem develops in parallel to self-concept. Self-esteem is the evaluation we make of ourselves, and it can range from low to high self-esteem (“I´m worthless” – “I´m worthy”). Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves and our personal characteristics. It is greatly influenced by the evaluation we make of the different aspects that comprise our self-concept.

Exploring self-esteem in kids & teens

To understand this abstract concept a bit better, I will delve into Susan Harter´s extensive research on self-esteem. Harter has developed widely used self-perception scales for children and adolescents. In her work, she identifies two coexisting categories of self-evaluation:

• global self-worth (overall self-esteem)
• domain-specific evaluation in different areas (for example, schoolwork performance)

The self-concept domains that Harter’s self-perception scales for children explore are specifically:

• scholastic competence (e.g., doing well at school work, finishing schoolwork quickly)
• social competence (e.g., knowing how to make friends, knowing what to do to be accepted by others)
• athletic competence (e.g., ability to do well at sports)
• physical appearance (e.g., being happy with one´s looks)
• behavioral conduct (e.g., the degree to which a kid likes the way he/she behaves, avoids getting into trouble)

As kids grow older and become adolescents, new relevant domains of self-evaluation need to be considered:

• friendship (which is different from social competence – this would be the ability to make close friends)
• romantic appeal (e.g., finding that they are interesting and fun on a date)
• job competence (this one is very dependent on the social environment -while lots of teenagers do part-time jobs in US, it is not the case for other countries)

💭 Are all these domains equally important for my kid’s self-esteem? Which specific self-concept domains contribute more to one’s overall sense of global self-worth?

Our kids’ overall self-esteem doesn’t come from just adding the level of performance in each of the self-concept domains. There is an overall evaluation of how much they like themselves as a person. Each domain of their self-concept contributes in a different way.

High competence in a domain highly regarded by a teen (for example, physical appearance) will be a good predictor of high self-esteem. High competence in an area that the teen does not consider important will have less impact.

Related reading: The Construction of the Self: Developmental and Sociocultural Foundations, by Susan Harter

Fun Self-Esteem Games / Social Skills Games

The role of play in human development has been well documented by research. Games with rules (starting around the age of 6 or 7)  are very important for their social development as they require: cooperation, following rules, competing, thinking about the other’s point of view and anticipating other people´s actions.

So, if kids learn through play, one of the best learning methods when we are teaching them new skills could be GAMES.

These are some fun games to help boost self-esteem. I´ve also included social skills games because improving their social skills will have a positive effect on their self-esteem and confidence.

1. Self-Esteem Game for Counseling, Team Building, Family

Game: Totem the feel-good game, Self-Esteem Game for Counseling, Team Building, Family

Why I like it:
It helps kids and teens:

• Discover their strengths and qualities through other people’s eyes
• Learn how to express gratitude
• Enjoy bonding opportunites
• Understand each other
• Become comfortable with praise and positive comments
• Share their feeling about other people
• Connect with family and friends.

Tip:

It is meant for kids aged 8 and older, but those a bit younger may still enjoy receiving praise and compliments from others.

2. The Tower of Self-Esteem (Card Game)

Game: The Tower of Self-Esteem (Therapy Card Game) consists of a series of questions connecting personal, emotional and social strengths of each player.

Players take turns with question cards, as they simultaneously cooperate to plan and build a strong and sturdy tower

There are three types of cards in the game:

• Blue cards for enhancing personal development (e.g. What am I good at? What is my favorite story?)
• Red cards for strengthening emotional intelligence (e.g. What makes me feel hopeful? When do I feel patient?)
• Yellow cards for boosting social skills (e.g. What would I want to learn from others? Something kind that I did for a friend was)

Why I like:

• It’s a great conversation started, that provides opportunities to talk about emotions in a fun and stress-free environment
• It encourages positive thinking
• It develops a range of important skills:
  • identifying positive traits
  • conversation skills
  • managing frustration
  • cooperation
  • fine motor skills
• It is fun to play!

The next two games were designed for therapists, counselors and educators:

3. Social Skills Game

Game: You Know Social Skills Games

Why I like it:
It helps kids and teens:

• open up and talk about themselves in groups
• start conversations that encourage them to reflect on their existing strengths and weaknesses.

Tip:
Great for counselors, therapists, teachers, and families.

4. Therapy Game (Thoughts, Emotions and Behaviors)

Game: Therapy Game to Develop Awareness of Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviors: Improving Social Skills, Coping Skills and Enhancing Self-Control

Playing CBT:

• supports and facilitates treatment for children and adolescents
• addresses various emotions, physical sensations, thoughts, cognitive traps and behaviors.
• it is designed specifically to improve social skills, emotional regulation, self-control and self-resilience in children and adolescents.

Tip:

Playing CBT is a therapy game designed for use in individual therapy and group sessions by therapists, counselors and educators.

You don’t necessarily need specialized therapy games to boost a child’s self-esteem; many everyday games can effectively foster a healthy sense of self-worth.

For example, cooperative board games are a great way to build confidence and self-esteem. They involve working together, making choices as a team, and figuring out problems, which all help kids feel more capable and sure of themselves.

5. Self-Esteem Conversation Cube (printable)

We shared this fun game in our Conversation Cubes blog post. It will facilitate conversations about self-esteem and help kids think more positively about themselves.

Let’s roll the self-esteem question dice!

💡 For more self-esteem game ideas, check out our post: 30 Fun Self-Esteem Games for Kids

Self-Esteem Worksheets for Kids

6. “Things I Like About Myself” Worksheets

Make a list of your positive characteristics, inner qualities, achievements, and talents.
These “Things I like about myself” worksheets can help with this fun activity ⇓

Related articles: Things I Like About Myself: 11 Worksheets & Activities for Kids

⚠️ The self-esteem worksheets mentioned below (#7–11) are included in the free “Self-Esteem Worksheets” PDF that you can download at the end of the post.

7. The A to Z “Amazing Me” Challenge

Help your child identify and celebrate their positive qualities. This worksheet helps your kid reflect on those important inner qualities that you can’t see from the outside but make them special.

8. My Inner Qualities Activity

This activity helps your kid reflect on those important inner qualities that you can’t see from the outside but make them special.
Examples of inner qualities could be being kind, thoughtful, optimistic, brave, patient, and friendly.

9. My Special Talents Activity

Ask your child to write a list of their natural talents.
If your child has problems with their own confidence, they may feel there are not things that they can do well, so be prepared with examples of those special talents

10. Positive Self-Talk: Rephrase Low Self-Esteem Language

Practice turning unhelpful negative thoughts into positive statements.
For example, if your child says:
💬 “I am so dumb; I always make mistakes.”
Help them rephrase that thought into a positive statement like:
💬 “I am learning from my mistakes and will keep improving.” 
Transforming negative self-talk into positive affirmations can help kids develop a more self-compassionate mindset.

11. Time Management Activity

Learning basic time management skills can help children feel more organized, capable, and in control of their daily tasks, which can boost their confidence and independence.
I’ve included a time management worksheet in your downloadable PDF. It will help kids independently organize their homework and activities.

Self-Esteem Activities for Kids (Confidence-Building Activities)

12. Write a Gratitude Journal or Use Self-Esteem Journaling Prompts

Write a gratitude journal- it will focus your kid´s attention on all the positive things in his/her life. 
This journal is absolutely gorgeous and it helps kids discover:

• the importance of feeling love and connection
• we all have strengths and weaknesses
• that mistakes help us learn
• what real friendship looks like

13. Growth Mindset Conversation Cards

Make time for growth mindset conversations growth mindset by using simple prompts that encourage children to reflect on effort, challenges, and learning.

You can explore our growth mindset conversation cards, which include ready-to-use prompts designed to support meaningful discussions and positive thinking.

Related resources: Growth mindset quotes (you can use them as conversation starters!)

14. Set Up an Achievement Wall

Set up an achievement wall- frame happy moments pictures and the achievements that make them proud.

15. My Special Photo Book

Prepare a photo book of their passions, interests, and people

16. Board of Happiness Activity

Prepare a “Board of Happiness”. It is similar to the previous one, but a notice board (or a poster board) allows you to display their achievements and happy memories.
If you wish to explore this option, you can check this post:
How to “Kids’ Art Wall Ideas that Develop Coping Skills & Fight Anxiety”

17. Practice Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations are positive statements that we tell ourselves for self-motivation or to challenge negative thoughts. When our self-competence is threatened, reflecting on sources of self-worth, such as core values can help us restore the sense of self-competence.

18. Achievements Diary

Encourage your child to keep a diary of their achievements, big or small. They can write about something they did well, something they learned, or a moment they felt proud of.

19. Teach your Child to Set Realistic and Achievable Goals

Help your child set clear, realistic goals and create a plan to work towards them. Learning how to set and achieve goals can build confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

20. “My Body Is Amazing” Collage Activity

For this activity, give children magazines, colored papers, markers, and glue. Ask them to create a collage representing all the amazing things their body can do, like running, jumping, hugging, and smiling. Encourage them to include images and words that reflect body strength, functionality, and diversity. This activity helps children focus on their bodies’ functional and positive aspects, promoting a healthy and positive body image from a young age.

Independence Activities for Confidence Building:

21. Household Chores

Let them be responsible for their own household chores (we always talk about age-appropriate activities, but I have a child with a disability, so I would rather talk about developmentally appropriate chores).
Engaging in household chores will instill a sense of responsibility and contribute to your child’s self-esteem. Encourage them to:

• Pack their school backpack
• Prepare their lunch box
• Prepare their own little travel suitcase
• Walk the dog
• Run errands

Tip: A chore chart will help you set up these activities and keep young children on task and motivated.

22. Managing a Small Budget

Give children a small amount of money to manage. They can learn to budget for their needs and wants, understand the value of money, and make their own decisions on spending and saving.

23. Organizing and Leading a Small Project

Encourage your child to plan and execute a small project, such as a backyard garden, a craft project, or organizing a small event like a family game night. 

Problem-Solving Activities:

24. Problem-Solving Activity: Traffic Light Worksheet

The traffic light worksheet is a tool we use to help with self-regulation, providing kids with simple problem-solving tips:

• Red light: identify the problem I want to solve
• Yellow light: generate potential solutions
• Green light: choose and implement

25. Problem-Solving Challenges

Present children with age-appropriate problems or challenges and let them find solutions on their own. This could be anything from fixing a broken toy to resolving a dispute with a sibling.

Related resources: Problem-solving activities for kids

Social Skills Activities that Support Self-Esteem:

The following communication /social skills activities will assist your child in developing social skills that may help improve their confidence

26. Assertive Communication Activities

Assertiveness is an important communication skill that will improve your child’s social interactions and self-esteem.
We have a detailed post on this topic that includes a free assertive communication checklist.

27. Self-Introduction Activities

Self-introduction activities assist kids in:

• developing confidence when meeting people in a new environment.
• providing them with more opportunities to make new friends. 

Check out our post on self-introduction for kids (tips and worksheets).

28. Role-Play Conversation Starters

This is another great activity to develop kids’ confidence in interpersonal communication situations
Don’t run out of ideas -> 68 Conversation Starters for Kids

29. Peer Teaching Sessions

Allow children to teach their peers something they are good at, such as a hobby, a simple academic concept, or a craft.

30. Team-based Challenges

Organize team-based challenges or scavenger hunts that require collaboration and problem-solving. These activities require children to work together, communicate effectively, and support each other, thereby enhancing their social skills and self-esteem through team success.

The activities we’ve explored shared different ways to build confidence to help kids of all ages feel better about themselves and bring about positive changes in their self-esteem.

Self-Esteem Crafts for Kids

Crafts can be a fun way to explore self-esteem and confidence. They may require a bit more preparation, especially with younger children, but they can also be a highly engaging activity where kids take part in the whole process.

Our self-esteem craft workbook is filled with creative, interactive paper crafts designed to help children build confidence, recognize their strengths, and develop positive thinking.

Here are a few examples of the crafts included:

31. Confidence Shield Craft

This craft helps children reflect on their strengths and create a visual reminder of what makes them unique.

32. Personalized Compliment Letterbox

A fun activity where children collect positive messages from others, helping them recognize their value and strengths.

33. Goal Ladder Craft

This activity encourages children to break goals into small steps and celebrate progress along the way.

34. Affirmation Flower Bouquet

A creative way for kids to explore positive self-talk and build a more encouraging inner voice.

These are just a few examples from our self-esteem craft workbook, which includes a wide range of printable, hands-on activities designed to build confidence and positive thinking.

Books About Self-Esteem Activities for Kids

35. Self-Esteem Books and Workbooks

Books and workbooks can be a great way to support children’s self-esteem through structured activities and guided reflection. Here are some of my favorite resources:

• Confident Kid Journal (Worksheets for Kids & Parents)
  This workbook brings together many of the ideas explored in this post, with guided activities that help children build confidence, recognize their strengths, and develop positive thinking habits.
• 104 Activities That Build: Self-Esteem, Teamwork, Communication, Anger Management, Self-Discovery, Coping Skills
• The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens: Activities to Help You Build Confidence and Achieve Your Goals
• Social Skills for Kids: Over 75 Fun Games & Activities for Building Better Relationships, Problem Solving & Improving Communication 

36. Books About Self-Esteem for Kids

The books I mentioned above are activity books.
But your child may also enjoy reading books about self-esteem and self-acceptance for kids! 
This is a selection of 20+ self-esteem books for kids, teens, and even parents.

Other Self-Esteem Resources for Kids & Teens

• 55 Empowering Self-Esteem Activities for Teens
• 30 Fun Self-Esteem Games for Kids
• All About Me Activity
• My Strengths Worksheets for Kids
• Activities to Teach Kids Responsibility

💭 Final thoughts: Confidence is built through everyday interactions. Simple actions like praising effort, encouraging independence, and supporting positive thinking can have a lasting impact. For more practical ideas you can use in daily situations, explore self-esteem tips for kids.