Positive Affirmations for Children

Positive affirmations for children (and mantras) are terrific tools that children can use to support themselves. They help them develop a healthy sense of self as well as a positive mental-social-emotional mindset.

Positive affirmations for children (and mantras) are terrific tools that children can use to support themselves. They help them develop a healthy sense of self as well as a positive mental-social-emotional mindset.

You can download FREE Positive Affirmations for Children Worksheets at the bottom of this post. If you want to learn more about Teaching Affirmations to Children, listen to this video.

What are Positive Affirmations for Children?

Affirmations are short; positive “I am” statements that call you into an intentional way of being.  They should be accompanied by a visual image and inspire visceral sensations.   When you use an affirmation, you should experience yourself as you are declaring.

Affirmations can take many forms, from simple phrases to specific affirmations that target a particular area of a child’s life. They can be used as daily affirmations, morning affirmations, or whenever a child needs a boost of positivity. Some children even have a favorite affirmation that they repeat to themselves whenever they need it.

What are Mantras for Kids?

Mantras for children are words, sounds, statements or slogans repeated frequently as a way to attune with an intentional energy or quality.

Affirmations and Mantras Change How We Feel

Affirmations become mantras for children when they are repeated over and over to oneself, out loud or silently.  They change how we feel by aligning and attuning body, mind, and heart around a life-enhancing aspiration.  In other words, affirmations are another technique for kids to use to set themselves up for doing their best and feeling good about their efforts.

Affirmations help children understand that, like the food they eat, the thoughts they think also shape how they feel and behave.

All of the body-mind self-care tools in our self-regulation flash card set include a poem to be chanted while doing the activity.  The words of the chant support children in remembering how to do the exercise and call them into a new way of being. When repeated, the practice and the shift in feeling become an embodied habit.

How to Teach Positive Affirmations for Children

Teach Children to Notice

In using positive affirmations for children, it’s important to encourage them to first notice if there are any repetitive thoughts already going on.  Explain to the children that repetitive thoughts are like playing a song over and over in their heads.

Ask children how they listen to music. What happens when they want to change the song they are listening to? Do they skip to a new song, download a new song or change the radio station?

Discuss how your inner voice works. We all have negative thoughts or “songs” we hear inside our head sometimes. Maybe we think we are not good at something or we feel sad. Other times we have positive thoughts or “songs” we hear with our inner voice that help us to achieve our goals or feel happy.

If they are playing fearful, negative “songs” such as: I can’t do this. I’m afraid. I’’m not good enough. I’m ugly. I’m stupid. Then, of course, they will feel self-doubt, anxiety or anger.  And, if that’s how they are seeing themselves, of course, they will have a hard time seeing the good in the people and events around them.

Acknowledge if this is going on and let kids know that it’s normal and that everyone deals with those voices.

Positive Affirmation for Children Free Printables

Encourage Children to Change the Negative Songs!

Explain to the children that you can change your inner voice and that you are going to imagine changing your inner voice. Just like we change the song we are listening to, we can also change our negative thoughts to positive thoughts. Positive self-talk can help us to achieve a positive mindset.

Ask the children to think of a negative thought or “song” that they have in the mind or had in the mind at one time. Invite them to change the music.  Lead everyone in miming to teach the children how to change the “songs”.

Encourage them to pretend to change the radio station or access a new playlist that plays lyrics such as:

I am healthy and strong.
I am confident and capable.
I learn best at my own pace.
I am safe.
I am loved.

Positive Affirmations for Children Free printable from Your Therapy Source

Teach Visualization

It’s empowering for children to act out physically what they are choosing to do mentally. This allows them to disengage with negative thinking and attune instead to a positive affirmation.  Practice not only saying the positive affirmation but also visualizing themselves completing the goal they have set in a positive, successful manner.

As they repeat the affirmation to themselves, coach them to see themselves that way –  reading well, climbing to the top of the jungle gym, making friends, etc. Give them time to notice how imagining it allows them to also feel it in their whole being.

If you need a picture book to supplement the lesson on positive affirmations for children, check out the beautifully illustrated affirmations for young children I Believe in Me by Connie Bowen According to early childhood educator, Leah Kalish, when she was first teaching, it inspired her to use affirmations and visualizations with her students daily. Very quickly, she noticed the beneficial impact on attitudes, behavior choices, and the ability to self-regulate.

Add Movement to Further Encourage Positive Affirmations for Children

Combine positive affirmations for kids and proprioceptive input with The Positive Path.  Children can jump along the path or do wall push-ups while they read words of encouragement.

Combine positive affirmations for kids and proprioceptive input with The Positive Path.  Children can jump along the path or do wall push-ups while they read words of encouragement.  Students can benefit from proprioceptive input to help get their bodies ready to learn.

Using the power of positive thinking with daily affirmations and physical activity can help students get their brain and bodies ready to tackle the school day.  FIND OUT MORE.

Add Drawing and Writing to Encourage Positive Affirmations for Children – FREE PRINTABLES

If you want to further expand your lesson on positive affirmations, download this 5-page digital packet of FREE PRINTABLES below.  The lesson is differentiated so students can choose from three different activities:

  1. Draw a self-portrait expressing positive traits or goals for themselves.
  2. Write out 5-10 positive affirmations on regular lined paper.
  3. Write out 5-10 positive affirmations on dotted lined paper to encourage proper letter formation.

Also included is a lesson plan and motivational poster to hang in the room to encourage children to change their inner voice “song” list.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AFFIRMATIONS FOR CHILDREN

As parents, we want our children to have a healthy sense of self and a positive outlook on life. However, as children grow up, they face many challenges that can affect their mental health and self-esteem. Negative thoughts, self-doubt, and anxiety are common among children, and they can have a significant impact on their overall well-being.

As mentioned above, fortunately, there is a great way to help children develop a positive mindset and build self-esteem: affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that children can use to support themselves, develop a growth mindset, and build a positive outlook on life.

WHAT ARE AFFIRMATIONS FOR CHILDREN?

Affirmations are short, positive statements that children can use to support themselves and build a positive mindset. Affirmations are based on the principle that what we think and say has a powerful impact on our lives. By repeating positive statements to themselves, children can replace negative thoughts and beliefs with positive ones.

HOW DO AFFIRMATIONS WORK?

Affirmations work by changing the way we think and feel about ourselves. Negative thoughts and self-talk can create a cycle of negativity that can be hard to break. By repeating positive affirmations to themselves, children can interrupt this cycle and build new neuropathways in their brains.

Affirmations also help children develop a growth mindset. Instead of seeing challenges as insurmountable obstacles, children with a growth mindset see them as opportunities to learn and grow. With the help of affirmations, children can develop the inner strength and resilience they need to tackle hard things and bounce back from setbacks.

BENEFITS OF AFFIRMATIONS FOR CHILDREN

There are many benefits to using affirmations for children. Here are just a few:

  1. Improved self-esteem and confidence: Affirmations can help children develop a positive self-image and build their confidence.
  2. Reduced anxiety and stress: Affirmations can help children reduce feelings of anxiety and stress by replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
  3. Improved mental health: Affirmations can have a positive impact on children’s mental health by promoting a positive outlook on life.
  4. Better performance in school: Affirmations can help children develop a growth mindset, which can lead to better performance in school.
  5. Stronger relationships: Affirmations can help children become better listeners and friends by promoting positive self-talk and a positive outlook on life.

HOW TO USE AFFIRMATIONS FOR CHILDREN

There are many different ways to incorporate affirmations into a child’s daily life. Here are some ideas:

  1. Use Daily Affirmations: Encourage your child to choose a positive affirmation each day and repeat it to themselves throughout the day.
  2. Write Positive Affirmations on Sticky Notes: Place positive affirmations around the house, such as on the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, or bedroom wall. This can help your child remember to think positively throughout the day.
  3. Repeat Affirmations in Front of the Mirror: Encourage your child to stand in front of the mirror and repeat positive affirmations to themselves. This can help them build a positive self-image and promote positive self-talk.
  4. Incorporate Affirmations into School Work: Encourage your child to use positive affirmations when studying for tests or completing school work. For example, they could repeat phrases such as “I am capable of learning and understanding this material” or “I can do hard things”.
  5. Use Affirmation Cards: Affirmation cards are a great way to incorporate affirmations into a child’s daily routine. Many affirmation card sets come with specific affirmations for different areas of a child’s life, such as school, friendship, or self-esteem.
  6. Make Affirmation Art: Encourage your child to create their own positive affirmations using washable markers or other art supplies. This can be a fun and creative way to promote positive thinking and self-expression.

EXAMPLES OF POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS FOR CHILDREN

Here are some examples of positive affirmations that children can use to build a positive mindset:

  1. I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to.
  2. I am loved and valued just the way I am.
  3. I am strong and resilient.
  4. I am a good friend and listener.
  5. I am worthy of respect and kindness.
  6. I am smart and capable of learning new things.
  7. I am confident and capable.
  8. I am safe and secure.
  9. I am healthy and strong.
  10. I am grateful for all the good things in my life.

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT AFFIRMATIONS FOR CHILDREN

Affirmations for children are a powerful tool for developing a positive mindset, building self-esteem, and promoting a growth mindset. By using affirmations regularly, children can build new neuropathways in their brains, replace negative thoughts with positive ones, and develop a more positive outlook on life. Whether using daily affirmations, affirmation cards, or other techniques, parents can help their children build a positive self-image and a strong sense of self-worth.

Download your Positive Affirmations for Children Free Printables Here

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Looking for even more Positive Mindset Resources?

Check out the complete Positive Mindset bundle.  Growing up is tough these days – children have so much stress, homework, activities, sports and more. It is easy to get stuck in a rut rather quickly or to feel like you are not succeeding. Children need all the support they can get. The Positive Mindset Bundle includes activities, printables, and worksheets to help children boost their happiness, reach their goals, and build more positivity into their lives.

Would you like positive mindset resources for yourself? Check out Reflect and Affirm for FREE positive affirmations for adults.

Positive Affirmations for Children free printables