A child is not born with high or low self-esteem. It is something that they learn through self-talk and self-confidence. The best skill you can teach your little one is the power of positive thinking and mindfulness – they’re never too young to start! We love using Affirmation Cards as a tool to encourage self-love and help with the regulation of emotions to support them in their daily life.
An affirmation is a first-person statement that when spoken with conviction out loud, helps to shift mindset in a positive direction and foster inner belief. Written in the present tense, affirmations should be repeated on a regular basis to maximise their effect in nurturing a child’s emotional wellbeing. Affirmations with simple (yet powerful) statements like “I am brave” and “I am never alone” focus on affirming the child is loved, as well as confidence-building statements that ensure they know they are capable of handling all situations. When paired with bright colours and hand drawn illustrations, even little ones can understand what the card means and visualise each phrase as a reminder as they go through their day.
Our set of 26 Affirmation Cards are a great tool to help kids build a healthy mindset, strengthen their resilience and foster connection. We have put a special emphasis on kindness, not only to themselves but to others around them. There are some simple, yet beautiful ways to incorporate an affirmation practice into your family’s daily routine (you might find these cards a helpful reminder for yourself too!). It’s the perfect way to start each day, reminding your child that they are loved, capable and truly unique.
Using affirmation cards in daily life
There are a number of ways you can use affirmation cards forkids, depending on the age of your child/ren and what works best for your family. However, the most important part of the practice is repetition. When you repeat something again and again, you are reinforcing the statement and the brain will accept what you are saying as fact. Once this occurs and you truly believe in what you’re saying, it makes it easier for your actions to follow in alignment. A child’s brain works the same, so repetition is essential in maximising the power of each affirmation.
An easy way to ensure affirmation cards are not forgotten in the rush of breakfast and running out the door, ask your child to pick a new card for the day once they have woken up (placing the cards by their bedside table is a handy visual reminder). Invite them to show you their card at breakfast time, ask them to say the phrase out loud and then have a chat about how it made them feel. If your little one is not yet reading, you can read the words on each card for them during bath time, bedtime or over a conversation in the car. Remember to make it fit in best for you and your family – if it’s easy then you’re more likely to turn it ina positive habit.
Other fun ideas for bringing mindfulness into your child’s day
- Place a card on the bathroom mirror, so your kids can read it while they brush their teeth.
- Pop a different card in your child’s lunch box for a daily surprise.
- Rotate the cards next to your family planner in the kitchen, as a visual reminder when checking what’s on.
- Slip one into your child’s school bag and ask them to display it in their locker, so they feel your connection and support during the day.
The benefits are endless when you start consistently using affirmation cards for your kids – it will become a fun and enjoyable habit for the whole family to get involved in. We can’t wait to see you share this powerful mindfulness tool – just know that you are helping them to build the foundations of self-confidence and self-love for life.
Shop Affirmation Cards here
