- Definition
Self-concept is how your child sees and understands who they are as a person, based on their experiences and what others tell them. It's not about being good or bad, but about having a clear or unclear idea of themselves.
A child who enjoys running and is often quick in games might see themselves as 'a fast runner'.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Self-concept is like building a character of yourself with blocks, where each block is something you can do or that you like.
Ask your child: What kind of mover are you?
Common mix-up: Kids may confuse this with feeling good or bad about themselves. Self-concept is simply the picture they have of who they are and what they can do.
Examples
- A child who learns to skip rope after lots of practice might see themselves as 'someone who can learn new things'.
- A child who always helps teammates during a game might see themselves as 'a good sport'.
self-concept is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
- Grade 5 Health and Physical Education
- Grade 6 Health and Physical Education
- Grade 7 Health and Physical Education
- Grade 8 Health and Physical Education
+1 more mention across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
