Positive thinking is a tool that many people use for overcoming anxiety, challenges or overwhelm during exam time. By starting to think more positively, children can boost their self-belief and work towards reaching their full potential. Helping our children use affirmations can also help us to use affirmations ourselves. No one is too young, or too old, to benefit from positive thinking and self-care.
If you’re helping your child to improve their self-esteem, try using these 18 positive affirmations for kids.
Before we get to the list, let’s take a look at what affirmations are, and how you can practice them with your child for maximum impact.
What are affirmations?
Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself. This can be something like “I am a good person.”
When saying affirmations out loud, it’s important to feel the words in your body. For example, if you’re saying ‘I am a good person’, notice how it feels in your stomach and chest when you say this statement. Feeling the words makes them more powerful.
It’s important that you know how to do this as you can then show your child the best way to practice.
How to create affirmations with your kids
Ask your child to think of a time when they felt really good about themselves. What were they doing? Who were they with? How did they feel?
Now, ask them to write down some of their thoughts and feelings on paper. Next, help them to make up an affirmation based on these ideas and feelings. For example:
“Today, I will try my very best at everything I do.”
To help you with this process, here are some positive affirmations.
18 positive affirmations for children
Practice saying these together. It may help your child to stand in front of the mirror and make eye contact with yourself, to really feel connected to yourself and the words you are saying, but they don’t have to if they don’t want to. They can also read them out loud; reading words on the page can make a deeper connection with us.
“I am smart.”
“I am kind.”
“I am beautiful.”
“I can do anything.”
“I am special.”
“I can do hard things.”
“I am good at maths.”
“I am good at football.”
“I am a good friend.”
“I am kind to others.”
“I can learn anything.”
“I love to learn new things.”
“I am a good reader.”
“I can learn anything.”
“I am a good artist.”
“I like my hair.”
“I always try my best.”
“I am an amazing person.”
You can tailor these affirmations to the things that matter to your child and the things they are good at or are working on being good at. For example replacing maths and football with whatever subject they enjoy, be it English, reading, dancing, hockey, climbing, or anything else that will boost their confidence. Repeat these affirmations a few times, then ask your child to write their favourite one down and place it where they can see it, such as by their bed.
A few other ways to help kids develop positive self-esteem
- Let them know that you believe in them.
- Help them to do things for themselves, like getting dressed, brushing their teeth, and making their bed.
- Point out the things they do well.
- Be sure to give lots of praise and encouragement for the good things they do.
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