The Simplicity and Power of Positive Affirmations for Children

It’s easy to overlook how much the little things shape the way children feel about themselves. Among the simplest yet most powerful tools we can offer them is the habit of using positive affirmations.

Affirmations are short, uplifting phrases that children repeat to themselves, helping them build a strong and healthy inner voice. Phrases like “I am brave,” “I am calm,” or “I am kind” might seem small, but the effect they can have on a child’s self-belief and resilience is anything but.

Why Positive Affirmations Actually Work?

What makes affirmations so impactful is how they connect with the way a child’s brain develops. Young minds are constantly forming beliefs about who they are and how the world works. What they hear, especially from themselves, gets repeated in their thoughts and eventually becomes part of their self-image.

Research backs this up. A study published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (Creswell et al., 2015) found that self-affirmation activates the part of the brain tied to self-worth and emotional regulation. Another study in Child Development (Yeager and Cohen, 2014) showed that even brief self-affirmation exercises helped teens feel more capable and improved their school performance over time.

Neuroscientist Dr Caroline Leaf explains that thoughts are real and physically shape the brain. She describes affirmations as a way to rewire thinking and build strong, healthy mental patterns. When children practice these regularly, it helps them bounce back from challenges and grow their emotional confidence.

How to Use Affirmations with Children?

The beauty of affirmations is how easily they can be worked into everyday life. You don’t need anything fancy, just time, presence, and repetition.

• Say them together in the morning

• Stick them to a mirror or inside a schoolbag

• Use them at bedtime as part of a calming routine

• Let kids choose or create their own so they feel more connected to the words

Here are a few to try with your child:

• I am safe

• I am enough

• I am unique

• I am learning

• I am powerful

This is one of the reasons why I created the Calmness Crew. Positive affirmations are one of the core tools we use, and they are built into everything we do. Whether it’s through our resources or tools, the affirmations help young people build confidence, self-worth, and emotional balance.

The Calmness Crew is about more than just being calm — it’s about helping children develop the internal tools to support themselves, even when life gets tricky. Affirmations give them something to hold onto. A voice that’s kind. A reminder that they are capable, loved, and resilient.

When young people hear and repeat these kinds of messages, it becomes easier for them to believe in themselves. That belief shapes the way they think, the way they learn, and the way they grow.

Final Thought

Sometimes the simplest words can have the biggest impact. Affirmations are more than just cute sayings, they are powerful, proven tools that help children become more secure, confident, and emotionally aware. And when those words are repeated with love and consistency, they can shape a child’s self-belief for life.

The Calmness Crew Plushies have positive affirmations as one of the techniques, along with a breathing and grounding technique.

Koala voice guides through positive affirmations, breathing technique and grounding technique