This article starts with a brief review of the development of children's self-esteem. Next the results are presented of a study investigating the clinical utility of Susan Harter's `Self Perception Profile for Children' (SPPC), especially as an indicator of self-esteem of children with psychiatric problems. For this purpose a comparison was made between the self-perception scores of children visiting a child psychiatric clinic and those following elementary education and special education. No differences were found between the clinic-children and both other groups.

The group of clinic-children was divided into the categories `depressive disturbances' and `other disturbances'. A comparison between those groups and the group of `elementary school children' also showed relatively few differences in self-perception.

The diagnostic value of the SPPC in itself appeared to be limited. To `map' children's self-esteem, the SPPC can be of use, but it is necessary to gather data about other aspects of self-esteem as well.