I am smart.
I am strong.
I am brave.
I am kind.
I am beautiful.
I am me.
These are the positive affirmations I have taught my children to learn, believe and recite every day. I am a true believer in building children’s confidence from an early age.
Confidence & Self-Worth
I believe that if they know how strong, brave, and kind they are, they won’t allow the words of others to bring them down.
“The development of this theory has led to neuroscientific research, aimed at seeing changes in the brain when we say affirmations. There is MRI evidence that shows certain neural pathways are increased in the prefrontal cortex when people practice self-affirmations.” –Wilkins2020.
We started positive affirmations with my daughter Jessie when she was about 6 months old. I remember rocking her and just grabbing her little hands and repeating, “You are so smart. You are so strong. You are so beautiful.” And even though I know it’s crazy to think she would ever remember those moments, I hoped that somehow those words would imprint in her mind.
Five years later and I can see that her confidence and self-esteem have definitely benefited from positive affirmations and hearing them daily. Just in her daily interactions, the way she tells stories about her school day, and how she perceives situations.
In my opinion, I believe the repetitiveness of positive affirmations can increase confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, and just overall boost in daily attitudes.
My son Spencer is two and while he enjoys these daily affirmations, I do think he is still too young to truly understand them. I know that repetitiveness is key with toddlers and young children. I hope that when he starts school next year, these affirmations will help him.
Our Routine
We practice our positive affirmations almost every day. I try to have them do them before or after their tooth brushing routines. This way it’s easier to remember and they are watching themselves in the mirror. We also move our hands to describe what we are saying. For instance, for I am strong they bring their arms up and show how strong their muscles are. It’s pretty adorable to watch. Mom win!
Positive affirmations have been proven to improve a child’s overall well-being. This is just a small way we can help our children gain a solid foundation on their emotions and self-worth. A simple “I can do this!” can change their outlook on so many situations.
