Virtually any preschool in Boston offers curriculum that includes activities where the creation of something is involved. Examples include art projects, science experiments, "writing" a story or building a structure. Beyond the initial task, these works serve additional purposes.

Such activities within your child's Boston preschool program are an important part of the learning process, help develop school readiness, and build self esteem. For this reason, the importance of parents actively helping students feel pride in their work and themselves should not be dismissed.

Tips for building self esteem

The most effective means of building self esteem in children is to set and recognize realistic goals. Obtaining these goals is a tangible means to generate feelings of pride and accomplishment. Valuing perfect performance rather than the effort or creativity put into a task, can be a source of frustration and actually lower self-esteem. To this end, how parents view creations from their child's Boston preschool program is important to the development of self esteem

• Show an interest in your child's work - When children return from their Boston preschool program, it's a great idea for parents to invite their kids to show the day's project and describe the process of creating it. A parent's interest in schoolwork helps children to also place value on their efforts.
• Notice the effort, not the end result - By focusing on effort, parents convey that creativity and imagination are more important than making a 'perfect' project. For example, asking children to describe the work they did at preschool in Boston and how they feel about it, rather than noting whether or not they stayed within the lines builds self esteem.
• Share your child's pride - The importance of a parent's attention is critical in building self esteem. Actively showing pride in work your child creates in their Boston preschool program is priceless. Parents can display projects from their child's Boston preschool throughout the home, for example, or share digital copies with relatives living elsewhere.

Children follow their parent's example when it comes to placing value. When parents show that effort, imagination and hard work are important, children learn that their work at preschool in Boston matters. In turn, they come to take pride in their efforts.

When parents ask an open-ended question like 'Tell me about your picture…' children are invited to explore and value their creativity. In turn, youngsters feel valued. They learn that their work, rather than a perfect result, is always good enough. This lesson is the cornerstone of building self esteem at home and at preschool in Boston.