The importance of affirmations for children

Affirmations are positive words or short sentences that children say to themselves daily. Affirmations can be used to help a child or adult muster the strength, will power, motivation and confidence to complete an act. Affirmations are used by Athletes, dancers and some pop stars to give them focus and determination. Just as we grow and develop and start to believe the words of others, we believe our own thoughts and words. For example if someone repeatedly says something Negative, we can react and start to believe those words. Very often we DO believe our own negative thoughts and words. Positive affirmations make children feel better about themselves and so increase confidence and self-esteem. Instilling Positive beliefs and finishing negative beliefs at a young age are important for the mental health of a child of any age.

How to use Affirmations
Pick an affirmation such as ' I am OK' 'I am Special' ' I am Great' ' I am Positive' I am Happy' I am Peaceful'
For maximum benefit, repeat affirmations everyday for at least 2 -3 weeks.
Repeat or listen to the affirmations in a calm and positive manner rather than in a state of disbelief. It is important to say it as if you mean it.
Repeat or listen to the affirmations on waking at the start of the day, to start on a positive and fresh note.
Say affirmations last thing at night and preferably listen to affirmations as you go to sleep, so allowing the positive words to penetrate the subconscious.
Relax Kids have released a CD of Affirmations as part of the Chill Skills series
Believe and Achieve is a set of affirmations to help children become more confident, creative, and successful. The CD will be an invaluable tool to develop a child's confidence, self-esteem, positivity and enthusiasm. Examples include: Get Motivated, Stay Cool, Be Positive and Feel Great. The CD can be used at home or in school. It is linked to the Every Child Matter outcomes and can help develop social skills and emotional literacy.

Tips on How to use the Affirmation CD - Believe and Achieve

Try to listen to these affirmations as much as possible so you can let the positive words sink deeply into your subconscious. - for maximum benefit, listen to an affirmation everyday for 2-3

Some of the tracks such as Get Motivated, Be Confident and Become Successful are great to wake up to or listen to while you are getting ready for school.

Set your CD player as an alarm clock and wake up to one of the tracks. As soon as the track comes on, try to sit up in bed enjoy the track - this is a great way to start the day!

Download the tracks onto an mp3 player and listen to them on the bus, while exercises, going to sleep, doing housework, lazing in the garden or whilst daydreaming.

Bring a CD player to just outside your bathroom and have a relaxing bath whilst listening to these inspiring affirmations.

Play the affirmations in the background while you are eating or doing your homework.

In the evening, take 5 mins out to listen to a track to help you feel relaxed and good about yourself.

If you have a friend round to stay, spend sometime together listening to the tracks.

At night, before sleeping, listen to one of the more calming tracks such as Just Relax, Become Healthy or Stay Cool.

You might like to encourage the rest of your family to listen to the CD with you - so you can all be and feel great!

If you use the CD in any other way, I would love to hear from you. Please email marneta@relaxkids.com and let me know all about it.

See below for the track list and which track is best for which problem or issue.
1 Get Motivated
This track can be used if you feel a bit unmotivated, a bit down, depressed, can't be bothered or bored
2 Feel Great
This affirmation can be used to help you feel good about yourself and to remind you that you are amazing, unique and special
3 Be Confident
This affirmation can be used before a test/exam, going on stage or speaking in public or going into a new situation
4 Stay Cool
This affirmation can be used if you are feeling angry or if someone has made hurt your feelings and made you cross
5 Get Creative
The affirmation can be used to help inspire you to be creative and come up with some new ideas
6 Think Positive
This affirmation can be used to help you lift any negative states of mind
7 Be Successful
This affirmation can be used to encourage you to think about your aspirations in life and become whatever you want to be
8 Become Healthy
This affirmation can be used to encourage you to live a healthy life and make healthy choices
9 Just Relax
This affirmation is great if you are feeling a bit stressed, tired and need to calm down