Children’s Affirmations

Affirmations trigger those important positive feelings.  When it comes to children, they need affirmations.  Big time.  They need to know they’re important.  They need to know they matter.  Affirmations help.

Before chapter reading, we listen to and recite Goodnight Moon.  But… before that… a teacher does daily affirmations with the children.  It’s a big deal.  Well, it’s more than that.  Children recite affirmations with gestures, while standing proud.  Does it make a difference?  You bet it does!

“I am special.”

“I am smart.”

“I am strong.”

“I am brave.”


“I am loved.”


“I am kind.  I belong.”

Here is what it looks like in the classroom:

One day this week a child said, “Naomi, you forgot ‘I am loved’.  Yikes, she did.  That’s how powerful and important our daily affirmations are for children.

We can all learn from children.  They have affirmations nailed, and it makes a huge difference.  If adults did the same thing, happiness and confidence would grow, and that’s how you change the world.

Jennie

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About Jennie

I have been teaching preschool for over forty years. This is my passion. I believe that children have a voice, and that is the catalyst to enhance or even change the learning experience. Emergent curriculum opens young minds. It's the little things that happen in the classroom that are most important and exciting. That's what I write about. I was a live guest on the Kelly Clarkson Show. I am highlighted in the seventh edition of Jim Trelease's million-copy bestselling book, "The Read-Aloud Handbook" because of my reading to children. My class has designed quilts that hang as permanent displays at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, the Fisher House at the Boston VA Hospital, and the Massachusetts State House in Boston.
This entry was posted in behavior, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, Mindfulness, self esteem, Teaching young children and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

32 Responses to Children’s Affirmations

  1. Ritu's avatar Ritu says:

    We recite 4 together at the beginning of our sessions, too, Jennie!
    I am loved
    I am brave
    I am strong
    I am a good friend!
    It is heart warming to see these 3 year old reciting with the actions!

  2. beth's avatar beth says:

    I loved doing affirmations with children, and we added this in the last few years that I was teaching. at first they were shy about it, but really grew to embrace and enjoy it. we even had some parents comment that they did this at home and asked the parents to follow along.

  3. Darlene's avatar Darlene says:

    How wonderful! By saying these affirmations out loud, the children will believe them. So important. I did something similar when I worked with unemployed folks. Nothing destroys confidence like loosing your job. So I had a list of affirmations we would start the workshop with. By introducing affirmations to young children, they will have back up when things go wrong in their teenage and adult life.

    • Jennie's avatar Jennie says:

      Well said, Darlene! That’s how it works. I’m glad you had a chance to bring affirmations to the unemployed. Hopefully planting the seeds of affirmations will help my kids down the road. Many thanks!

  4. Victoria's avatar Victoria says:

    I’m a believer! Affirmations, positive self-talk…yes!!! With you! Xo!😘

  5. My kids know they are strong and resilient and loved I respect them and theý respect me x

  6. What a great start or end to a day.

  7. What an affirming way to begin each day. Thanks for sharing, Jennie.

  8. beetleypete's avatar beetleypete says:

    This never happened at any of my schools, and it’s such a great idea.

    Best wishes, Pete.

  9. What a wonderful thing to do! I could hear a change in the children’s voices when they said “I am loved.” That’s the one that means the most!

  10. That’s supposed to be a “!!!” not a “?”

  11. Dan Antion's avatar Dan Antion says:

    This is a wonderful way to begin each day of a child’s life.

  12. This is a great idea! Children are much more receptive than adults, so the affirmations don’t have to get through all the negative mental clutter we accumulate when we’re older.

  13. They really do love that sort of thing.

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