Help Your Children Succeed by Building Their Identity

As parents, we may brace ourselves for terrible teens once our children grow beyond preschool and primary school. Can we handle this stage with greater insight and better foundations for their success?

Identity Crisis

Famous psychologist Erik Erikson coined the phrase “identity crisis” in the second half of the 20th century. It refers to a branching point in personality development during adolescent age (12-18 years).

At this stage, the person may emerge with a strong sense of identity and step into adulthood with confidence and certainty. Alternatively, the person could withdraw from normal life, avoid decisions about the future, and end up associating with negative groups.

Developing Strong Personality

Erikson and his wife Joan believed that identity crisis was as part of a whole process of development that stretched from infancy to old age.

They believed that biological and sociocultural forces shaped one’s personality. Reconciling conflicting forces and mastery of important competencies led to personality strengths. For example, infants who receive more trust from their mothers and feed well would step into toddlerhood with greater hope for the remaining life stages. Conversely, unresolved challenges could return as problems in the future.

Towards Fidelity

With supportive nurturing, a child may build up a sense of hope during infancy (under 18 months) and a will for autonomy during toddlerhood (2-3 years). Through discovery and exploration, the child could progress to purposeful initiative (3-5 years) and gain confidence when teachers and peers recognize their efficacy (6-11 years).

From such iteration of trust-based support and autonomy-based competency development, the child is well set to grow stable identity. The result would be “fidelity”, defined by Erikson as the ability to sustain loyalties out of one’s own will and belief.

Significance of Identity

Further research has indicated that fidelity enables adolescents to be active citizens in society. These adolescents are also more able to form intimate relationships in their adult life.

In this light, most of us easily associate a person who bears stable identity with confidence and resilience. People who hold an integrated and enduring view of their values and principles, and whose conviction is tested in social interactions, are more likely to forge their own path and inspire followers.

Because our sense of identity could change during our adolescence due to social interactions, identity has become a significant aspect of student development practice in educational institutions.

These institutions believe that affirming the sense of identity could help struggling students to stay with their studies and others to be more ready for the real world of work.

Strengthening Identity through Learning

In the same vein, researchers and educators have defined “learning identity” in their quest for high quality education. This refers to the attitudes and behaviors of willing learners that drive them to overcome challenges and feel empowered and able to lead their own growth.

Educators who believe in leveraging the natural potential of children pay attention to constructing positive learning identity through social interactions.

For example, the widely embraced Reggio Emilio Approach, which emerged in the Reggio Emilio municipality of Italy after World War II, advocates consideration for each child’s perspective. It also calls for parents and educators to allow space for the children to take initiative and grow confidence.

Loris Malaguzzi, its primary proponent, advocated that teachers must refrain from imposing their own images of children when interacting with the children. For example, viewing a child as being plagued with reading disability would obstruct important perception that the child could simply be bored. Rather, effective teachers listen and wait to uncover the real image of each child.

Learning identity is important for good grades. It is also a powerful springboard for the development of stable personal identity during adolescence.

At Gracademia, we believe in the power of identity and the constructionist approach. Hence, we emphasize on self-directed learning, with guidance for competency. We collaborate with parents to strengthen children’s autonomy and recognize their strengths. Find out more about our courses here.