The life of a kid is no easier than that of an adult. They too deal with fears, insecurities, and negative thoughts in their day-to-day lives.
A simple yet effective strategy to overcome these feelings and challenges is to use positive affirmations. Affirmations help promote self-confidence and make kids believe in their own abilities. They shift a child’s focus from the negative to the positive aspects of life and empower them to build a bright future.
In this post, you will learn all about positive affirmations and get yourself a free PDF with over 300 positive affirmations that kids can use to live a happy and fulfilling life.
What are positive affirmations?
Positive affirmations are simple phrases or sentences a person can use to dispel negative thoughts and boost their self-esteem and confidence.
Almost all of us have, at times, used positive affirmations without realizing it. Think of the time when you said to yourself, “I can do this!” or “I have got this!” when things become challenging. Didn’t these words uplift your spirits and help you tackle the situation head on? That’s the beauty of positive affirmations.
It is easier for adults to understand the power of affirmations and put them into practice in their everyday lives. However, with kids, it’s a little different. There is very little chance that kids already know about positive affirmations unless otherwise introduced by their parents and teachers. So, as guardians and caregivers, we can teach kids about affirmations and how to use them, so they are mentally and emotionally equipped to cope with the challenges of life.
Why are positive affirmations important for children?
Positive affirmations are important for children because they give kids a voice to talk about themselves in a positive way. Sadly, kids go through a lot more than we realize. It can leave them feeling sad, insecure, and left out. Some might even question their abilities and existence.
But using positive affirmations regularly provides a constant boost to their spirits, so they don’t fall into the trap of negative feelings and make their way to success.
Here’s how positive affirmations benefit children:
- Affirmations help kids build self-love and a positive self-image.
- They encourage kids to learn and grow.
- They relieve stress and anxiety and help them remain calm and positive.
- They help kids become more resilient and fight obstacles with courage and confidence.
- They help them fight negativity and practice positivity in life.
- School-specific affirmations help improve academic performance and support a child’s educational journey.
Do positive affirmations really work for kids?
Yes! Positive affirmations are great tools to change a child’s mindset from negative to positive. Repeating positive sentences rewires their brain and changes how they feel and approach a particular thought or situation.
Here, it is important to note that positive affirmations for kids are not a quick fix to problems children face in their lives. It takes time and dedication to see positive changes in a child. But once the child achieves it, there is a remarkable change in their outlook and how they cope and live their lives.
300+ Positive affirmations for kids: Free PDF
Considering the positive effects of affirmations on kids, we have compiled a comprehensive list of positive affirmations that kids can use to bring positivity to their lives. The list is available in an easy-to-download PDF format. All you need to do is download the affirmations and print them for use.
You can either keep the pages as a booklet or print affirmations in poster size so your child can put them up in a place where they can see and repeat after.
Poster-size affirmations can also be a great addition to classroom walls to add a touch of positivity and encouragement for students.
Find the link to over 300 positive affirmations for kids below:
How to choose positive affirmations?
Though kids can start out with any affirmation they would like to begin with, it is usually more effective to choose an affirmation that can help the child cope with their current struggles or situation.
For example, a child who is being picked on by other students in class for being different can benefit more by using affirmations like “I am unique” and “I am awesome.” Similarly, affirmations like “I am full of courage to try new things” and “I am confident in my abilities to try new things” would benefit someone who is hesitant or scared of trying new things.
Parents should, therefore, understand what their child is going through at the moment and suggest them to use affirmations that will benefit them the most. You can always change or add new affirmations whenever required.
How can kids use positive affirmations?
Reaping the benefits of positive affirmations requires consistency. So, if they want to build a solid foundation of positivity for the rest of their lives, they must use affirmations regularly.
Ideally, it is best for kids to use them twice a day—in the morning and before bed at night. Kids can either say, repeat mentally, read, or write their chosen positive affirmations. They must use every affirmation at least ten times to imbibe it as a fact in their minds.
Here are some interesting ways in which kids can use positive affirmations:
- Say them out loud as you look into your eyes in the mirror.
- Create or print affirmation posters and put them up on an affirmation board in your bedroom. You can also add them along with some positive classroom environment quotes to create a happy learning space in your classroom.
- Write affirmations on sticky notes and paste them on the bathroom mirror so you can look at them first thing in the morning. Or, stick them on the study table or fridge door so they are always in front of you.
- Use a journal to write affirmations of your choice along with your thoughts and feelings using mental health and mindfulness journal prompts.
- Meditate for a few minutes and say your affirmations while you give your brain a calming break.
- Take affirmation breaks during study sessions to reset your mind.
- Make an affirmation jar filled with a handful of affirmations written on pieces of paper. Pick one and read it whenever you need a positive boost in your mind.
Concluding thoughts
Affirmations are positive statements that must be used every day to create a positive mindset. Children can benefit a lot by incorporating them into their lives. It can improve their self-worth and turn them into confident individuals. However, parents must be patient and help their child stick to a schedule to reap the benefits of affirmations.
It is also important to realize that affirmations are not magic and may or may not help a child. A lot depends on their situation and mental state as well. If you notice your child is not benefiting from affirmations, it may be time to see a therapist to identify any underlying causes behind your child’s negative thoughts and find better strategies to bring about a positive change in their life.
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,