Establishing a routine for your child is a good way to build healthy habits and have a smooth start or end to their day. One way you can keep this momentum going is by reciting affirmations to boost your child’s confidence and self-esteem.
What are positive affirmations?
According to mental health specialist Raoul Lindsay, affirmations are particular words or phrases that you say to yourself. And they can often be used to counter negative thoughts or feelings.
“We would use positive affirmations to replace critical or negative self-talk and exchange those thoughts and feelings with positive and uplifting statements.”
Reciting positive affirmations with your child in the morning or evening is a simple, yet effective way to try and build their confidence.
No day is the same, every day we face something new. So, before or after your child goes about their day, you might find it useful to take some time and recite positive affirmations that can help them navigate their feelings.
How can positive affirmations help my child?
According to Raoul, including affirmations regularly in your routine can have a positive impact on your child’s way of thinking.“What we know about children is that they hold on to the words of adults around them. Adults will always have an impact, so when parents, carers, teachers and other adults around them have a positive way of looking at things, it can help them to feel assured.
“Affirmations that are measured, reasonable and believable can have a really positive impact on children.” For example, if they’re feeling worried about seeing new people, you can use affirmations like, “I am brave and I am kind!” or “I believe in myself.”
This can help give them a feeling of assurance and confidence, which may eventually help them to overcome their difficulties.
Children also benefit by learning to understand their own emotions and those of others.
You know your child best and affirmations are always best when they’re personal, but here are some ideas help you get started…
- I’m caring and help
- I’m important and special
- I’m loved by my family and friends
- I’m a good friend/brother/sister
- I’m brave and strong
- I believe in myself
- I respect others
- I can make good decisions
- I will have a good day
Building your child’s confidence and resilience as they start to attend nursery or school can feel like a tricky prospect, but the rewards are there for both of you and affirmations could be a part of your toolkit, as Raoul explains.
"They can help to solidify a child's belief in themselves and help children to develop with a sense of self - that they can feel confident in their own abilities, their own kindness and their own strength.”
When can you introduce affirmations to children?
Affirmations can be introduced to children at any age. Raoul explains that they have the most impact when children’s emotional literacy is ‘on the up’, when they start nursery or school. But he also sees the benefit of including positive statements in songs and rhymes with children under three - helping them to adopt a positive mindset early on.
Raoul points out that parents will know what their child can manage in terms of building emotional literacy. “We want to help them to understand that we can say positive things to ourselves to counteract negative thoughts and feelings when they arise.”
If your little one is about to wash their face or brush their hair in the morning, this could be a great opportunity to look into the mirror and start to practise affirmations.
According to Raoul: “A lot of parents talk about mornings being really important. If you were to say affirmations in the morning, they can start the day in a really uplifting and positive way.
“You can do your affirmations while you're brushing your teeth. You can do your affirmations while you're getting ready. You could do your affirmations while you're on the school run, walking or driving to school.”
Making personal affirmations
Affirmations are personal, so you can make them specific to your child. Look into the mirror with them and start by asking how they are feeling about the things they’ll be getting up to during the day.
Looking in the mirror gives them the opportunity to talk directly to themselves and take in what they’re saying. You can gauge how they’re feeling by their response.
Raoul adds, “It can be nice to look at yourself and really acknowledge that you are present. That can be important and what we know is the way we talk to ourselves hopefully has a positive impact on the way we talk to others.”
Using affirmations that relate to your child’s day might give them the boost they need. They may be anxious about meeting new people or being in a new environment - you can encourage them to focus on the positive things that can happen in these situations. For example, it might be exciting to meet new friends and see new things.
