7 Positive Affirmations For Kids To Hear

If the philosophy that your children believe everything you say stands, then it’s imperative that we say the right things to them. What I mean by that is making sure they hear positive affirmations that can help them believe in themselves, alleviate their fears, make them braver than they feel and give them courage. Positive affirmations for kids is a tool that can be used to prepare our children to deal with a world that can sometimes be a little scary.

Reality Check

Don’t worry, I’m not suddenly going to pretend to be the mom who doesn’t yell at my kids, or who doesn’t give out kisses for boo-boos that happen even when I told them NOT to do something. Nope, I’m not that mom. But I am the mom who believes that our children are incredibly sensitive to words, words that can be said in frustration or without even realising that they are affecting our kids.

“Stupid is as stupid does.”

The phrase ‘Stupid is as stupid does’ was popularised by Forest Gump. It was his reply to always being called stupid. It means that a person should be judged on their actions, not their looks.

I was quite annoyed recently to be listening to my 7-year-old daughter reading one of her reading books from school out loud. In the book one character told the other not to be “stupid”. I strongly dislike the word stupid. Until recently (thanks to schoolyard friends) my girls believed that stupid was a swear word. It’s one of those words I forbid my kids to use because I don’t believe anyone needs to be told they are stupid. Neither should they think it’s okay to call someone else stupid. It’s a nasty word only used when someone is incapable of coming up with a better more appropriate words to express their frustration or inability to understand a situation.

But, I digress. My point is that I believe that children believe what they hear about them. If you continuously tell a child they can’t do this or that, they won’t bother trying to do it.

However, if you tell them they are clever, brave, beautiful, loved beyond measure and important, they will also believe you.

So, here are some of the most powerful positive affirmations for kids to hear. These are the things that we should say to our children all the time, in an effort to make them believe how wonderful they truly are:

1. You is smart, you is kind, you is important!

Yes, this is another quote from a movie. The movie “The Help,” and okay, maybe this isn’t the queen’s English but I believe that this is one of the most powerful moments and speeches I have ever heard in a movie. It’s not just an affirmation for the child in the movie, but Abileen saying this to Miss Mae is also her telling herself these words too.

This is something we should all be telling ourselves and our children because it’s just as relevant in either situation.

2. You are brave, I know you can do it.

This positive affirmation for a child can be used to help them overcome any insecurities they might be struggling with. There’s a moment in Grey’s Anatomy where the Doctors assume the Superman pose as they prepare for extremely complex surgery. The idea is that if they convince themselves that they are superheroes, they will be brave enough to tackle a task that even they are scared to do. Kids need their parents to believe in them and to help them convince themselves that they CAN do the things that scare them the most.

3. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it.

I don’t want my children to think they must struggle with something independently. I want them to know that they can ask for help. Pride stops people from asking for help, and the idea that we should just know something can cause massive insecurities to develop. While encouraging our children to try things first is essential, we should equally encourage them to be comfortable asking for help.

As the parent of a teen (albeit a step-mum), I’ve seen how not wanting to appear ‘stupid’ there’s that word again, becomes a massive hurdle/barrier to achieving what you want to in life. Asking for help shouldn’t be something you are ashamed of. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it.

4. Saying sorry means you want to do better; it shows you care.

Saying sorry shouldn’t be a punishment for a child. I’m 100% guilty of forcing one child to apologise to the other for something I deemed a crime against the other. But was I there? Did I see the build-up to the situation? No. I wasn’t. We should teach them why it’s important to say sorry, not just by making them do it, but also by saying sorry when the situation warrants it, genuinely.

An empty or forced apology is worthless. Saying sorry to someone you’ve wronged means acknowledging what you did wrong and wanting to make amends and be better.

5. If at first, you don’t succeed, try again.

We live in a world where many things in life come more easily than ever before. It makes working hard for things you want, even harder because it’s not as necessary. My eldest is quite good at many things, she’s a quick learner, good at swimming and various sports. She is NOT good at Uno or mini-golf! After several tries, we have decided not to go to min-golf/putt-putt again. She could not understand that it’s a game of skill, and you can’t just whack the ball like you do in hockey. You have to have patience, keep trying, and keep practising to be good. Yes, I’m good (better than even my husband, not that he will even read this, I’m sure), I’m also 30 years older than she is, and so I should be better than her.

The point here is that she needs to learn to practice and to work for what she wants. You can’t just be the fastest swimmer, you actually have to go for training. And maybe if you didn’t get a pen-license the first time round, but you are more careful and practice your hand writing skills you’ll get it on the second round and it might even mean more to you. If at first you don’t succeed, try again – a life lesson we all have to learn but another positive affirmation for kids that can help them through difficult situations.

6. It is enough to always do your best.

With that said, it is enough to always do your best. I want my kids to know that I am proud of them, as long as they always do their best. They may not be the fastest swimmer or the best at maths. They might not have a gymnasts flexibility or be the next child genius, but if they always do their best and put in the effort, that’s good enough for me. If there’s one from this list, this positive affirmation for kids to hear it one of the most important for me.

7. Be Kind Always

This one is fairly simple and self-explanatory. My girls have learnt a few harsh lessons in life. It’s not easy moving schools, moving countries, leaving the familiar and entering the unknown. I’m extremely proud of them for all that they have achieved. At the start of every new school term, after their first day back, I always ask them if any new kids are in their class. I then remind them of how scary their first day at their new school was and how it costs nothing to be kind and to go talk to the new kids because they know just what that person is feeling.

Kindness is more than just being welcoming to strangers, though. Kindness’s very basis is to be nice, understanding, empathetic and non-judgmental. Kind is a small word with a huge impact. I do believe that the #KindnessMatters movement is one of the most important and potentially impactful movements that will hopefully have long-lasting repercussions on the future of society. Be Kind Always.

In the world of children, a simple word can often take root and sprout quietly like a seed. As parents, how can we make these positive affirmations a part of children’s daily lives? Printing phrases like “You are brave” and “Always stay kind” on lanyards is not only a small gift for children, but also a way to turn intangible encouragement into tangible companionship. When children go to school with their school bags, the words on the Custom Lanyards will act like an invisible friend, quietly reminding them: “You matter” and “Just do your best”. This gentle repetition can nourish children’s self-confidence unconsciously and give them more courage when facing challenges.

There you have it, those of my top 7 positive affirmations for kids to hear. What are some of your favourites? Please let me know in the comments below?