Positive Affirmations for Children's Self-esteem

Positive affirmations are beneficial for children's self-esteem because little ones see themselves in a healthy and loving way.

Written and verified by the psychologist Elena Sanz Martín.

Last update: 27 December, 2022

People interpret reality based on their thought patterns. These are formed from our childhood based on the way we talk to ourselves. Therefore, in this article, we’re going to explain the benefit that positive affirmations can have on children’s self-esteem.

Internal dialogue

Studies have demonstrated that human beings don’t see reality as it is, but as we are. Our thoughts are a filter between what really happens and what we feel.

Therefore, if a friend doesn’t answer the phone and you assume they’re busy, you’ll feel good. But if you think they’ve seen your call and didn’t pick up because they don’t like you, you’ll feel sad and betrayed. The objective fact remains the same but the interpretation and the consequent feelings are not. The internal dialogue that takes place in our minds helps us to interpret reality and make decisions.

How does it develop?

Our thought pattern begins to be created from the time we’re small based on what we see in others and what we experience. And, once established, it accompanies us throughout our lives. It is, therefore, essential that we contribute to helping our children to develop a healthy and beneficial inner dialogue. To do so, three aspects are necessary:

• Being a role model, allowing children to observe how we treat ourselves with love and indulgence and how we maintain a flexible and optimistic attitude.
• Providing them with words of love, encouragement, and confidence so they can incorporate them into their own internal dialogue. Children learn to talk to themselves as we talk to them.
• Give them the tools they need to shape their thoughts. We all feel overwhelmed at some point, but we have the power to decide which thoughts we give power to and which ones we leave no room for. This is where positive affirmations are a great resource.

Positive affirmations for children’s self-esteem

Affirmations are phrases or statements we make about an aspect of reality. They can be negative (“people are very selfish”, “everything goes wrong for me”) or positive (“I’m brave and capable“, “I’m surrounded by people who love me”).

When these affirmations are frequently present in our vocabulary, they influence the way we see ourselves and life. Therefore, we need to be aware of their importance and the power of being able to change them to our benefit.

Children are at a critical stage in which their thought patterns are in full formation. And it’s now when getting them used to using positive affirmations can have a beneficial impact on their self-esteem. So, how can you do it?

Define positive affirmations for children’s self-esteem

A few phrases should be chosen that concisely define what we want to internalize. They should be written in the present tense and in the first person as if it were an event that’s taking place at this moment. To work on children’s self-esteem, positive affirmations can be used as follows:

• “I’m smart, I have really good ideas.”
• “I am fun.”
• “I have good friends.”
• “I am capable of achieving what I set out to do”.
• “I feel happy.”

  

Set reminders

It’s important that children get used to thinking in these terms in their day-to-day life. Therefore, convey to them the importance of dedicating kind and encouraging words to themselves when they feel bad. Don’t allow negative thoughts to settle in their mind. You can combat them with your affirmations.

In addition, you can place notes with these affirmations around the house. Placing them in strategic places such as the mirror or the desk in their room will help them to have the affirmations present without effort and make them part of their dialogue.

Dedicate a few minutes every day

For the affirmations to take hold in your child’s unconscious, it’s important to repeat them daily for several weeks. The most appropriate times are just before bedtime and at the beginning of the day. In addition, it’s very beneficial for them to look in the mirror while they repeat them.

Try to make it a game in which the whole family participates, each one repeating their own phrases. Establish it as a routine so that it becomes a habit to go to sleep after dedicating those pleasant words to one another. And start the day remembering all the good things we have to offer.