AFFIRMATIONS FOR KIDS

Affirmations are the most wonderful tool - for you and for those that you love. I’ll admit, it’s taken me a little bit to get on board with affirmations. I got a little weird about them when I first started exploring them but the more that I explored them and the more that I tried them the more that I started to fall in love with them.

It was during one of my biggest rock bottoms that I really started to see the power of them. This rock bottom was pretty gnarly and I think that the main reason for this is I felt so adrift, I was struggling to find purpose and I had completely lost who I was. I somehow stumbled upon Gabrielle Bernstein and her writing sparked something in my brain. At that point, I felt like it was worth a shot and so I jumped in (there is something about these moments where we drop all of our judgements, ego and step into healing. The payoff is outrageous!). I inhaled her advice and I went further. I explored everything that I could find, and I started to see that there was something behind them. Science backs up this ancient practice.

Some of the first recorded evidence of affirmations dates back to the ancient Egyptians. From inscribed amulets and even tattoos. Modern science shows that there are reasons why positive statements can have a profound impact on how we feel about ourselves and see our world. It’s this reason that it’s a fantastic tool for you to use with your kids. Over time I’ve created rituals that I adore with my little ones. The beauty of doing this is you get all of the benefits of the affirmations but you also get some wonderful moments with your tiny humans. I use them for tricky times, for bed times (my eldest is convinced that sleep is optional!) and in the mornings before we head out for kindy. With school now looming I’m conscious of making sure that we have time to build up some lovely confidence foundations.

Want to give a boost to your self-esteem and confidence

Creating and repeating positive statements starts to encourage your brain to believe them. It’s effectively rewiring those neural pathways to believe that you are enough, that you are capable, that you do love who you are and that you’ve got this. Believing and trusting in yourself makes way for actions and behaviours - I can’t think of a better way to get our little ones on the right path. As a bonus, you get to take this ride with them!

THE AFFIRMATIONS

Here are some affirmations that I use with my two little ones. Pick and mix the ones that you connect with. Create new ones that match where you are in life. The key to a powerful affirmation is one that you connect with and can believe - it can’t be too vague or out of touch with how you feel. You don’t need hundreds, pick 3-4 to start with and add as you feel is right. I like to do just enough that they can bring to mind these statements.

THE RITUAL

Start by sitting down, facing each other and even holding hands. Tell your little one to repeat after you. I have a special mat that we sit on for this and at night we do this in bed. Get creative and make this a practice that becomes a tradition.

I am BRAVE

I am CONFIDENT

I am LOVED

I can do ANYTHING

I am SAFE

I am KIND

I am CALM

I am SMART

I am CAPABLE

I am PROUD of myself

I BELIEVE in me

I CAN DO ANYTHING!