This manual for parents viws self-esteem as a crucial determinant of children's behavior. Section I describes what self-esteem is and the effect that it has on all parts of a child's life. Children's success in learning, human relationships, and other productive areas of their lives is seen to be limited if self-esteem is low. Section II describes four conditions that must be met for children to have high self-esteem. Children must experience the positive feelings that result when they have a firm sense of connectiveness, uniqueness, power and models. Section III points out the kinds of things that children may do that indicate a problem in the area of connectiveness. Connectiveness consists largely of the experience of being related. Section IV describes children's behavior that may indicate a problem in the area of uniqueness. Uniqueness is related in part to feeling individual and special. Section V explores issues related to children's sense of power. Power derives from experiences such as being in charge and making decisions. Section VI discusses children's sense of models. Models give structure to experience and facilitate confidence, goal direction and moral choice. Materials designed to increase the child's sense of connectiveness, uniqueness, power and models and to remediate problem areas are provided in Sections III, IV, V, and VI. (Author/RH)