At a glance
The ability to tune in to your emotions, ideas, and actions is self-awareness.
Being self-aware also involves being able to understand how you are perceived by other people.
Two forms of self-awareness exist: public and private.
You can hear people talk about self-awareness, not just for children, but also for adults, as an essential skill. The ability to tune in to your own emotions, feelings, and actions is self-awareness. It's also about understanding that you and others are influenced by how you behave.
The reality is that you're probably familiar with adults who have no good sense of self-awareness. If so, you will ask: Why do we expect children to have it, and how?
The response is simple: For people of all ages, self-awareness is critical. It enables us to succeed at home, at school, at work, and in relationships with other individuals.
How self-awareness develops
Self-awareness doesn't develop at all at once. Over time, it happens. When children begin to be able to identify and name their feelings, abilities, and difficulties, and likes and dislikes, the process begins.
Imagine a kid who while talking stands close to other children. Public self-awareness will be to consider the discomfort of other children, understand what's causing it, and take a step back. But not seeing and continuing to stand near does not mean that on purpose the child is disrespectful. It may be that the social cue was missed by the boy. Or that the child needs extra guidance learning to understand the reactions and emotions of other people.
The importance of strong self-awareness
It's easier for them to develop positive self-esteem when children understand themselves better. For children who struggle in school or with friendships, that is significant. It offers them a way of not only looking at their obstacles, but also seeing what they are good at. Knowing all about how they think and how they come off allows children a greater understanding of when to speak up or self-advocate about what they need.
Kids that are self-conscious are also doing a great job of self-monitoring. That means they can keep track of what they're doing (with schoolwork or social work) and find out what's working and what's not working. Self-awareness also contributes to self-reflection — thinking about stuff that happened next time, seeking ways to make things work better.
