What are positive affirmations?
Positive Affirmations are simple phrases or statements that have the power to motivate human minds and negate negative thoughts, feelings, and destructive behaviors.
In order to understand the importance and benefits of positive self-talk or self-affirmations, we need to understand some terms:
Self Esteem: The global evaluative dimension of the self, also called self-worth or self-image. (Santrock et al. 2015, p. 325)
Self Concept: Domain-specific self-evaluations ((Santrock et al. 2015, p. 325)
A child with high self-esteem and positive self-concept is believed to be attached to their parents in a secure way and parents engage with their kids in sensitive caregiving (Santrock et al. 2015, p. 326)
Positive self-affirmations are effective tools that can boost motivation, self-worth, and self-esteem and reduce negative thoughts and emotions. Having high self-esteem is necessary for the child’s well-being (Campbell, 2012).
Researchers have found that children with high self-esteem are happier than kids with low self-esteem.
How to maintain high self-esteem?
A child feels secure and confident depending on the parent-child interaction during the early stages of child development.
Love and support are what a child expects from his or her parents. Children who are attached to their parents securely and parents are involved in sensitive caregiving, have higher levels of self-esteem.
One study found that children with low self-esteem are related to depression and anxiety in adolescence and early adulthood stages.
According to research at the University of Toronto, it is found that girl and boy infants, whose mothers are low in anger and high in respect-based controls, exhibited higher self-esteem at the age of 12 (A. Grusec, & Sorenson, 2008).
Self Affirmation Theory
According to the Self Affirmation Theory (Claude Steele, 2008), people are motivated to maintain a positive self-image in situations where self-integrity is threatened. Self-affirmation enhances self-competence by reflecting on the psychosocial sources of self-worth or the core values.
Effects on the brain
Studies found that self-affirmations reduce the effects of negative emotions and help to broaden the individual’s overall perspective, and stimulate certain areas of the brain to think and act positively (Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4814782).
Repetition of positive self-affirmation statements not only alters the thought pattern of the brain but also retrains the brain and changes the way we act and think. As a result, with the combination of an individual’s skills, capabilities, and past experiences, self-affirmation can increase confidence, and self-esteem and delivers a positive outcome.
According to a study by Kang, S. et. al (2015), there is a disappearance of underperformance once an individual self affirms. ( Retrieved from How Self Affirmations can Alter your Brain Structure | York Vision)
Children need Self Affirmations
Children learn to love when they are loved.
Positive self-affirmations are necessary for their emotional and mental well-being. When you or your child’s teacher compliments a good action, it is certain that the child feels confident and the self-esteem is increased.
When adults speak positive words to them, they feel supercharged and ready to take on new challenges.
Repetition of positive, powerful words establishes the fact that they are unique and have the power of making positive changes in life.
It helps to have a positive mindset. good energy and good vibes.
15 powerful positive affirmations for kids
Children incorporate their parents’ beliefs, values, words, the way they act and think, and almost everything they see, and hear with their senses, even if their parents don’t realize it. It is absolutely necessary for the parents to say positive words to their kids to keep them motivated throughout the day. It’s our (parents) responsibility to keep our children happy and safe at all times and ensure that they feel positive about themselves and their surroundings.
Make sure they get their daily dose of positive affirmations and motivational quotes as well!
1: I am kind
2: I am brave
3: I am unique
4: I am loved
5: I can do anything
6: I will always help others
7: I am responsible
8: I will always try my best
9: I am capable
10: I am important
11: I am happy
12: I am confident
13: I am safe
14: I am awesome
15: I am proud of myself
6 Motivational quotes for kids
- I think I can, I know I can: Believe in yourself especially when things are not easy!
- Being kind is never wasted: Show kindness, treat others the way you want to be treated, and become a better human being every day, that’s where you win!
- “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are“- Theodore Roosevelt- Start now, this is your moment, don’t think to be perfect, just act now!
- “Make each day your masterpiece“-John Wooden: – Do your best every time, rewards will be amazing, and it is just as simple.
- “No one is perfect, that’s why pencils have erasers“-Wolfgang Riebe- Love yourself, you are not here to prove anything to anybody, be you, and keep the right people around you to grow.
- “Only surround yourself with people who will lift you higher“-Oprah Winfrey- Keep away from people who make the surroundings toxic, and make new friends who will support you, love you, and believe in you always!
Conclusion
- The daily repetition of self-affirmations over and over again transforms these words into beliefs
- Say the positive words to your kids every day for boosting confidence and a positive mindset.
- As a parent myself, I never forget to say “I love you and you are the reason for my happiness” to my kid, and the smile I get in return is the only thing I desire the most in the world, it makes me feel that my child is happy and safe in this world and feel valued and loved.
- As a parent what are the steps you are going to take to grow self-esteem in your child?
- As a parent, how do you know that positive affirmations are working for your child?
- Please leave a comment below and share it with other parents to help them to build their children up!
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