Childhood is full of adventure, but children do face some difficulties.
Growing up is full of ups and downs. While adults often see childhood as always being carefree and fun, children sometimes face difficult situations that they aren't sure how to handle. Thanks to television and the Internet, children are constantly bombarded with images of who they should be or why they may not be good enough. It's hard to shut those voices out. Some of those messages are internalized and becomes what the child speaks to themselves.
Bullying, poor grades, and trying to fit in, these are just a few of the difficulties children face. You can give children the tools to literally change their lives for the better!
The adults in a child's life can't always understand why the child's mood is down or they simply aren't able to "fix" it. Instead of prodding, which usually makes the situation worse, adults can give children the tools to "fix" their own moods. Positive affirmations are a great solution.
Positive affirmations are helpful tools for silencing negative thoughts. How children think and what children think about has a huge impact on their behavior and their lives. When children learn to have a positive outlook on life, they are able to better handle setbacks. This doesn't mean there will be no hard times, but it does mean that hard times may not have such a huge impact on the child's day.
HOW POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS WORK
Positive affirmations are specific statements that help silence negative thoughts. They work by helping children visualize what they are saying. When repeated on a consistent basis, positive affirmations can literally change a child's life.
SEVEN GREAT POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS TO START WITH
I AM COURAGEOUS
I AM STRONG
I AM HAPPY
I AM LOVED
I AM CONFIDENT
I AM AWESOME
I LOVE MYSELF
Positive thinking leads to a more positive life.
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
- REPEAT THE AFFIRMATION: encourage the child to repeat the affirmations 5- 10 times
- THE RIGHT ATTITUDE: in the beginning the child may be reluctant, don't prod, allow the child to do it at their own pace. Eventually the positive words will begin to take over.
- CHOOSE A GOOD TIME: Anytime is a good time for positive affirmations. However, first thing in the morning, helps to start the child's day off right. Right before bed helps the child end their day on a high note.
Have you used positive affirmations before? We'd love to hear your experience over on our Facebook page or you can tweet us @HelpingKidsRise with your suggestions.