Affirmations for children aren’t about pretending everything is perfect. They’re about planting seeds of self-belief, emotional awareness, and resilience—especially in a world that can feel overwhelming for little hearts.
At Zen Club, we use affirmations not to paper over pain, but to gently guide children toward noticing their strengths, their safety, and their spark. Inspired by the teachings of Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, and David Hamilton, we believe affirmations are a powerful tool to help children rewire their brains to respond to joy, calm, and connection.
What Affirmations Are (and Aren’t)
Affirmations are short, positive statements that help shape how we think and feel. For children, they might sound like:
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“I am safe and loved.”
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“I can take a deep breath when I feel wobbly.”
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“My feelings matter.”
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“I am strong, even when I’m scared.”
But affirmations aren’t about denying difficult emotions. We never want children to feel they have to “be happy” all the time. That’s not real life—and it’s not emotionally healthy.
Instead, we teach children to honour their feelings and then gently shift their focus toward what David Hamilton calls “glimmers”—those tiny moments of safety, joy, or connection that help the brain build new pathways.
Rewiring the Brain with Glimmers
Neuroscience shows that the brain is shaped by repetition and attention. When children repeat affirmations, especially during calm moments, they’re training their brains to notice the good. Over time, this helps build emotional resilience and a more balanced response to stress.
Wayne Dyer often said, “You’ll see it when you believe it.” Affirmations help children believe in their own worth, which in turn helps them see more kindness, courage, and possibility in the world around them.
How to Use Affirmations with Children
Keep it simple. Keep it playful. Keep it real.
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Mirror work (Louise Hay’s favourite): Encourage your child to look in the mirror and say, “I love you,” or “You’re doing your best.” “I approve of you,” is a particularly powerful affirmation.
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Affirmation post-its: Create stickers or post-its together with drawings and words like “I am brave,” “I am kind,” “I am enough.”
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Bedtime rituals: Whisper affirmations as part of your wind-down routine. Let them choose one that feels good.
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Emotion check-ins: When your child feels sad or angry, validate the feeling first. Then offer a gentle affirmation like, “It’s okay to feel this way. You’re still safe.”
Final Thoughts
Affirmations aren’t magic words—but they do help children build emotional muscles. They teach kids that they can feel big feelings and still find their way back to calm. They help them notice glimmers in the dark. And they remind them that their inner voice can be a friend, not a critic.
At Zen Club, we believe every child deserves to feel seen, strong, and supported. Affirmations are one of the simplest—and most powerful—ways to make that happen.
Want to try it? Join us for a free trial session in Harpenden Leisure Centre on August 29th, 12.30pm and see how your child begins to shine!
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