7 Self-Esteem Boosting Games to Play With Your Tween This Easter

The Easter holidays can be a chance for a bit of a reset. Slower mornings, less rushing about and a bit more unhurried time together. That makes it a great window to build confidence in simple, everyday ways.

Here are some easy, low-pressure games you can try at home to help boost self-esteem in girls aged 8 to 12.

1. The ‘I Can’ Challenge

Write a mix of small challenges on slips of paper and pop them in a jar. Think: “Teach me something you know’, ‘Try something new’, ‘Introduce yourself to someone’. Each time your child completes one, ask them to share it with you and say what they’re proud of.

2. Strengths Scavenger Hunt

Pick a few strengths like creativity, bravery, curiosity or problem-solving. Throughout the day, spot real-life examples together. ‘That was brave’, ‘You really stuck with that’. It helps girls see who they are when they try, not just when they achieve.

3. Role Swap

Let your child take the lead for an hour. They choose the activity and run the show. It could be planning a walk, baking or teaching you something. Being trusted like this does such a lot for confidence.

4. The ‘Not Yet’ Game

When ‘I can’t do this’ comes up, gently add ‘yet’. Break the thing down into smaller steps and treat it like a mini challenge over a few days. You’re showing them that struggle isn’t failure, it’s part of getting there.

5. Compliment Tennis

Stand facing each other and take turns giving compliments. The catch: you have to accept the compliment before giving one back. It sounds simple, but lots of children (and adults!) find this surprisingly tricky. It builds self-esteem and connection at the same time.

6. Build a Challenge Course

Use cushions, chairs or the garden to create an obstacle course. Add things that need balance, coordination or a bit of thinking. Then let your child tweak it, redesign it, make it harder. Confidence grows when they test things and figure them out. Enjoy running wild through your creation together!

7. ‘One Good Thing’ Circle

At the end of the day, go round whoever is together and each share one good thing, about the day or about yourselves. Keep it specific: ‘I kept going even when it was hard’, ‘I helped someone’, ‘I learned a cool fact about something’. This is something we do at the start of every single Fearless Girls Club session to set the tone straight away. The girls get used to noticing their own wins, however small, and saying them out loud. It also creates a beautiful sense of shared optimism and positivity.

None of this needs to be perfect or planned. It’s all about small, consistent moments that help your child start to see themselves a bit differently. And that’s what confidence is built on.