Here’s how and why to introduce affirmations to your children, along with 101 powerful ones to have them try first. The idea is to start getting yourself in a mindset where you can catch negative thoughts happening and meet them with positive ones. Eventually, you’ll start to believe more of the good things you say about yourself and embody them in real-time. As licensed psychotherapist Annette Nunez, M.S., Ph.D., tells mbg, “If we can teach a child how to start thinking positively at a young age, it changes how children view their world and also helps with their inner dialogue. If we don’t work on that from a young age, we start thinking negatively.” And as author and mental health expert Aline Milfort, M.S., MHS, adds, “Affirmations provide confidence and lead to motivation. They also teach the child how to implement those affirmations when something negative happens, even when their parent isn’t around.” “When I introduce them, I have a deck and they pick out a card, and we focus on that card for a day,” she explains. “For example, I believe in myself. We process what that means, and that will be our mantra for today.” Milfort recommends practicing the affirmations in front of the mirror, noting “what they start to repeat, they will begin to believe and see.” You can remind your child of their affirmation by placing the card on the fridge or in their room, and pointing it out if you catch them in a moment when they might need to use their affirmation. “When they’re older,” Nunez adds, “you can discuss more deeply what an affirmation is and what is positive for them. Having them participate in that dialogue is really important.” Milfort notes you can come up with affirmations that are specific to what your child is doing (such as, I can finish this homework) or more general to everyday life. The following affirmations are appropriate for young children, preschool to early elementary age. As your child gets older and can conceptualize deeper and longer affirmations, you can help them come up with some more: This goes along with creating a safe space but adds an extra element where the child can use a toy or doll to mimic themselves, often revealing how they’re feeling. “When you see your child is having a joyful experience or they’re happy,” she says, “ask them how they feel in that moment. If they can’t explain why, you can model it for them.” For example, you could say something like, I see you’re happy because we’re playing this game. This will help them grow up to recognize when they’re feeling good (a skill we could all use!).
