ELSA SUPPORT - Self esteem Animal Strength cards

Strength cards are a brilliant way of raising self-esteem in children. Please see below for lots of ideas on how to use them.

There are lots of ways of using them to help boost a child’s self esteem. They help children to name and recognise their inner strengths. Great for the child who is shy or doesn’t want to speak out in front of others.

Lay all the strength cards out and ask the child to pick five strengths that represent them.
In a group situation, ask one child to sit in the centre of the circle and the rest of the children have to pick five strengths that represent that child.
In a group situation, give each child a white board and pen and go through the strength cards. The children can write five on their whiteboards.
Pick one of your strength cards and decide how you are going to use that strength – today, tomorrow, next week, next year?
Pick one of the strengths that you want to be. For example if you decide you want to be a good team player. How can you achieve that? Make a plan.
Pick someone you admire, it might be a footballer, a singer, a film star, a family member or a friend, what strengths do they have?
Put the cards face down, ask a child to pick one. Discuss the card. Does he/she know anyone with that strength? Do they have that strength? Would they want that strength?
Ask the child to design their own strength card. What image would it have? What would the strength be?
Use the strength cards as affirmations. Use the five cards the child has chosen and get them to say ‘I am strong, I am thoughtful, I am wise, I am musical, I am kind’. Put them in a little box and the child must look at them daily and repeat the affirmations.
Pick one strength card such as ‘affectionate���. Who do they know who is Affectionate? Discuss. This could also be a group discussion.