“I am smart!” “I am kind.” “I am loved.”
Imagine if your students truly, deeply believed these statements about themselves? How would it change their behaviors? Relieve their anxiety? Improve their self-image?
I’ll be honest, affirmations always sounded like kind of a woo-woo thing to me. Turns out, though, they can actually be very effective, and there’s real science behind it.
And given that they’re easy and fun to do with kids, it seems like there’s no reason not to give them a try.
“Science has shown us that we have an extremely powerful strategy at our fingertips to help not only decrease negative thinking, but to promote better mental health, higher confidence, resilience, and healthy self-esteem: positive affirmations.
Negative thinking patterns are common for many children, especially the ones who come into the world more prone to anxiety or sensitivity.
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When your child uses affirmations, they’re literally disengaging their ‘emotional brain’ and reactivating the part of the brain responsible for problem-solving, impulse control and emotional regulation.”
- Angela Pruess, “Positive Affirmations for Kids to Skyrocket Strength, Confidence and Self-Love”
Essentially, new neural pathways in the brain are created—and reinforced, like a trail in the woods—every time kids practice this type of intentional, positive thought.
(Two incredible side benefits: affirmations have been linked positively to academic achievement {Layous et al., 2017}; and have been demonstrated to lower stress and rumination {Koole et al., 1999; Weisenfeld et al., 2001}.)
Some ideas for you:
✰ Keep affirmations short and simple, so they’re super easy to remember
✰ Say them in the present-tense and in first-person (“I AM...”)
✰ Display them somewhere where they’ll be seen often to remind you. At home, use post-its on the wall, fridge, or bathroom mirror, or have kids make a fun poster for their bedroom door.
✰ n the classroom, students can write and decorate their affirmations on colorful paper and tape them to their desks. If the class has a whole has an affirmation, display it boldly on the wall or chalkboard. Encourage remote learners to put a post-it on their laptops. Set aside time each day for students to say them.
✰ Repeat as often as possible, at least once a day. Yes it’s awkward and weird, at least at first, to say them out loud, but just get over it. Model it for the kids! Positivity! New neural pathways! Yahoo!
The affirmation “I Am Smart” from my new book Peaceful Like a Panda is the perfect “brain booster” to fire up that positive energy before homeschooling starts, prior to a test, or at the start of online lessons. Give it a try!
Take a long breath in, and let the air all the way out.
Say “I am smart.
”Breathe in, and breathe out.
Touch one hand to your head, where your smart brain is.
Say it again: “I am smart!”
Breathe in, and breathe out.
Touch the other hand to your head, where your smart brain is.
Give your head a little pat.
Say it again: “I AM SMART!”
Bring your hands down.
Take a long breath in, and let it all the way out.
Don’t forget to grab your free printable!