Research studies have shown that youth today are experiencing higher rates of depression. Oftentimes, this can include low self-esteem and loss of motivation. Negative and distorted thought patterns may contribute to or worsen these symptoms. Parents should always seek professional help if they believe their child or teen is depressed. However, teaching healthy and appropriate coping skills in childhood can help prevent these symptoms later on and allow children to learn to manage them effectively. Positive affirmations for kids help teach coping through changing negative thoughts into positive ones. This in turn can help influence feelings of self-worth, increase motivation, and lead to greater satisfaction in life. I’ve created positive affirmation cards that can be used for kids, teens, and even adults to encourage healthy coping and create a positive mindset.
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What are Affirmations?
Affirmations are small phrases or sentences we tell ourselves to help motivate, empower, or change negative or distorted thoughts. It is the foundation upon which Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was based. That is, the notion that changing our thoughts can lead to changes in our behaviors.
Researchers have found a correlation between the impact of our thoughts on our emotions and behaviors. Therefore, affirmations can be a tool in which we combat those negative thoughts we may be predisposed to biologically, or those from our environment.
Why Affirmations are Powerful
As previously mentioned, affirmations have the power to change how we feel and how we act. When practiced often and effectively, this can have a tremendous impact on our lives. Furthermore, this effect can be felt and experienced without changing any of our life events or situations. Rather, we are actively working to change how we think about these events or situations.
Additionally, the minds of our children are growing and absorbing everything around them. By introducing kids to positive affirmations and encouraging them to use these, we can help promote positive thought patterns that may persist into adulthood.
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It is no secret that positive thinking can change our world. Those who are grateful and confident, for example, are more likely to have healthy relationships with others, cope more effectively with symptoms of depression or anxiety, and better manage stress.
By giving your children such tools, you are preparing them for success in life: mentally, emotionally, and socially.
Affirmation Cards
Kids are visual creatures so positive affirmation cards provide excitement and encouragement for them to actually use them. These cards not only provide examples of affirmations to use, but also serve as a visual reminder to practice them regularly.
Click here for your free printable affirmation cards
If you want to get the most use out of these cards, I would recommend laminating them. You could also add a small binder ring after laminating to keep them all together.
How to Use Affirmations Effectively
There are several ways in which kids or teens can use affirmations effectively. There really is no right or wrong here, as long as it works for your child. Many people may recite positive affirmations to themselves out loud or in their head. They may choose a certain time of day to practice this or do it sporadically throughout the day.
Others may write their affirmations down, such as in a journal, or use their positive affirmation cards. To do so, kids may add them to their coping skills box, or print them out and stick them on a mirror or place where they will be reminded to use them frequently.
Choosing a quiet time and place to practice self-affirmations is also a great way to encourage children to practice mindfulness.
I hope you enjoyed these free printable positive affirmations for kids. What affirmations do you use? Please sharing by leaving a comment below!
Primetime Chaos says
What a lovely, lovely idea! I have never thought of doing affirmations with kids! I have to try this with my two little nieces 🙂
Thanks for the tip!
xx, Theresa
Christina says
Thank you, I’ve found it to be very helpful to promote positive thinking and help form positive mental habits that can last!
Randy says
Out of the many different blog posts that you find on the internet, I think is highly underrated. I firmly believe in the power of affirmations and your explanations and detail were great. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this and share this with the world. You are awesome!
Randy from http://www.bestcarpetcleaningsolutions.com
Christina says
Randy, thank you so much for the kind words! I hope it is helpful to my readers and those who come across them!
Aliza says
This is so important! Great post and I hope that everyone can learn from it 🙂
Christina says
Thank you so much, Aliza! I hope so too! 🙂
workingmommagic says
What a sweet idea! Positive affirmations are so important, especially for young kids!
Christina says
I completely agree! So much is formed when we are young. It can be a great way to spend time with our kids as well!
Bridget (Nutty Hiker) says
These are awesome! What a great idea! I am printing them out for my teens =)
Christina says
I’m so happy to hear that, I hope they find them useful!
Katherine Marshall says
ive been looking online for cute coping card & affirmation cards for the past 3 hours… yours are BY FAR the best i’ve seen!! i love them!
Christina says
Thank you so much for that, it is some serious motivation to keep making these and sharing them with the world! And actually, the lack of the cards I wanted to use with my clients and kids is why I made these in the first place. I’m just glad that others are finding them useful and enjoying them as well!
Naomi says
Thank you for these amazing resources. These affirmations are great for students who are having a tough time of it in class or in life in general. They are so positive and uplifting ! They’re even great for teachers to read on days when things aren’t going well to help make everything feel better. Thank you!
littleslifeandlaughter says
Thank you so much, Naomi! I agree that adults can definitely get use out of them as well. I started practicing daily affirmations several months ago, and I have noticed a huge difference in being able to get through times of feeling burnt out or those more challenging days!
Lynette says
Wow! These came out perfect! Thanks so much for sharing this free printable!
Christina says
You’re very welcome! I’m glad that you enjoyed them!
SabrinaB. says
Loved your affirmation cards! THANK YOU!
Christina says
Thanks so much, I’m happy to hear you like them!
Benaaz Irani says
This is fantastic! Thank you.
Christina says
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you liked them!
NicoleMaryMoore says
I love this idea and I am so thrilled I came across it while doing my search. My non profit organization will be using these for a project with our girls. Thank you for creating these!
Christina says
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know, I hope the girls enjoy it as much as my clients have seemed to!
Jen says
Thank you! Came across these today for my little one who struggles with school anxiety – she was very excited when she saw them. Thank you for sharing!
Christina says
You’re very welcome! It makes me so happy that they are being used and loved by so many!
christine says
Thank you so much! Used these for an event my nursing class did at a homeless shelter for the kiddos and their parents!
Christina says
This completely made my day, thank you so much for sharing! I hope everyone enjoyed it!
Lisa A. Pedrick says
Thank you! My 3 year old grand niece loves arts and crafts. She and her parents made an advent calendar box for this coming Christmas. I printed your affirmations and we are going to put one affirmation in each box, along with other fun things. Thank you for sowing into the life of my beautiful grand-niece.
Yolenn says
Hello, thank you very much for those beautiful affirmation cards.
I would like to translate them into French and would like to keep the same background (I want to make them double sided with French and English on each side).
By any chance, do you have the template of your cards you could share with me so that I could add the French as well please.
If yes that is fantastic and if not it is OK and I will create something different. Either way I shall share the result with you when I am finished 😉
Take care and thank you again.
Amanda says
Thank you for this resource! I came across these at the perfect time. With all of the negativity going on in the world right now, thank you for bringing that spark of positivity! My students will love them!
Anna says
Thank you, so much for this idea. Never thought about it for kids this is brilliant and why not start them at a young age. God bless you.
K says
Thank you for these! Printing these out to give to my classmates for finals tomorrow hoping it brings a smile to their faces 🙂