There are many benefits associated with positive affirmations: they help increase kids’ creativity, self-worth, self- confidence, and self-compassion. Positive affirmations can also lead to emotional well-being. However, teaching your kid to adopt positive affirmations is not always an easy process. As one study suggests, positive affirmations will fail if those affirmations are not realistic. In other words, if your son is convinced that he is poor in math, asking him to utter a positive mantra such as “I am great at math” won’t work. When you think about it, this makes perfect sense.
Using positive affirmations with kids can also be tricky because kids respond better to specific and explanatory affirmations. “I am great at math because I practice for 10 minutes every day”. “I am kind because I let my brother play with my toys” rather than “I am kind”. Problem is, making affirmations conditional means that if your daughter ever refuses to share her toys, then that logically makes her “unkind”.
An alternative approach to promote your kid’s self-esteem is to foster a positive affirmation environment in your home. You can do this by focusing on words that build him or her up.
The words you speak to your kids can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Your kids can carry these words with them throughout their lives. Indeed, just as wounds inflicted in childhood can have consequences that last beyond the childhood years, positive words can have a positive impact extending well into adulthood. Here are 100 things every kid needs to hear to develop a positive self-image:
- I love you
- I love you just the way you are
- I’m here
- I’ll always be here
- I’m so proud of you
- I was so proud of you when you (…)
- You make me laugh
- It’s okay
- It’s not a big deal
- It doesn’t matter
- What do you need?
- I’m listening
- Let’s talk about it
- Let me think about it
- I’m sorry
- I was wrong
- These things happen
- I know you didn’t mean to
- I forgive you
- Forgive me
- I believe in you
- I need your help
- I need a hug
- I love your hugs
- Do you need a hug?
- Don’t give up
- I know you’ll make it
- You’re such a kind sister/brother
- You are so great with (…)
- You’ll make a great (…)
- You’ll be great
- I know you’re going to be awesome
- You have what it takes
- You’re going to nail it
- I’ll help you
- What do you want me to help you with?
- You can try again tomorrow
- What can I do?
- Let’s do this together
- We’re in this together
- I understand
- I’ll go with whatever you decide
- Help me understand
- You can be anything you want to be
- Let’s hang out
- I think you’re so cool
- I’m glad you’re here
- You’re fun to be around
- Can you show me what to do?
- You tell the most interesting stories
- There’s only one you in the entire world
- You mean the world to me
- Yes!
- I know you’ll make the right decision
- It’s your decision
- We’ll find the solution
- What do you want to do?
- What do you think?
- We’ll try out your suggestion
- You always have such great ideas
- You have such great memory
- I know you did your best
- You are my sunshine!
- You are good enough
- You don’t have to be perfect
- You don’t have to be like your friends/sisters/classmates
- Thanks for trying
- Thanks for being such a great kid
- You can stop if you want to
- You can ask me anything
- I’ll try my best
- I like seeing you happy
- You are my greatest priority
- You were right
- That’s a great question
- I don’t know
- I like hanging out with you
- You have such an interesting way of (…)
- Wow! How did you think of that?
- Come with me.
- I enjoy your company.
- You make me smile
- You’ve got the best smile ever
- You’re gorgeous
- Yes, you can!
- It’s okay to fail
- It will get better
- I miss you/I’ll miss you/I missed you
- It will be okay
- You are where you belong
- You look great
- It’s great how you always defend your opinions
- I respect you
- You deserve respect
- You always finish first!
- I know you’ll achieve great things!
- We’re lucky to have you
- We wouldn’t be the same without you
- I was thinking about that time you (…)
- I was telling (…) how funny/interesting/kind/thoughtful you are
References
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0062593
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24781897
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4026714/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24781897
This post was first published on parents.com
Great words. Both children and adults can benefit. Well done!
Thanks Randy. Glad you appreciate 🙂
These are great words and I heard most of them growing up. Unfortunately many of my friends didn’t which is why they lack self-confidence and I reserve now. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading! Glad you appreciate.