Affirmations are a powerful and holistic way of building a positive mind and happier children.  Positive words that get absorbed by the mind create your belief system. When a child learns the affirmations and practices them, those beliefs become the child’s new programing.  And when their beliefs are challenged, the subconscious turns to the new programing created through the affirmations.  For example, if your affirmation is “I have brains and I am smart”, and you are told you are stupid, the affirmation will send a friendly reminder you of your new programing. And the more an affirmation is repeated, positive or negative, the stronger it will become.

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Affirmations are the most powerful when we say the words to ourselves whilst looking in a mirror. These positive words are literally building our self-belief. Young children generally feel quite comfortable and far less confronted while looking at themselves in the mirror, but if you find that your child finds it difficult to look into the mirror while repeating the affirmations, it is best not to push them. Affirmations are still very effective by just reading the words aloud to yourself. Children that are visually impaired will use this technique.

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Affirmations become more effective when repeated and when said in a firm confident voice.  It is good to say them out loud. This helps affirm the belief. You may like to work a few affirmations a day or a week, depending on how confident your child the affirmations. If they seem to struggle with any one, then it’s a good idea to work with it until they can say it with confidence.

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Taking time to discuss affirmations and how your child feels about them can be helpful.  Some children may prefer to work on the affirmations on their own and this is ok too.It is important to show respect for your child and their feelings and not to push them too hard if they’re feeling uncomfortable. Positive affirmations should always be introduced in a fun and exciting way. Use them to help children be the best that they can be and to nurture happy and positive feelings.

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Never use affirmations during a punishment or consequence scenario.  They will not be effective as a positive affirmation must be associated with positive feelings.  If a child is in time out or being punished that affirmation will be associated to the punishment and will not work.

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A NOTE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN: children using affirmations under the age of 5 or 6 when they’re not yet reading, can be asked to repeat the words by their parents or can be taught to memorize the words.  This works very well and affirmations used at this age create strong and healthy foundations.