Self-Esteem Games for Children

by Deborah M. Plummer

Plummer, a speech and language therapist and imagework practitioner in the UK, provides a handbook for building and maintaining self-esteem in children ages 5 to 11. The handbook, aimed at teachers and parents, consists of about 80 non-competitive games to supplement other strategies in an integrative approach. The games, which can be played in schools and fit with learning objectives, involve warm-ups and icebreakers and the seven foundations of healthy self-esteem: self knowledge, acceptance, reliance, expression, confidence, awareness, and self and others. Each section begins with an overview of the process or element explored. Games are marked by age appropriateness, time, skills, and amount of speaking involved. The first section describes the theoretical and practical background for understanding self-esteem, using games, and working with groups. Both author and subject indexes are provided. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)