Positive Affirmations for Kids (with a Free Printable!)
Your words become the voice your child carries with them. These 20 affirmations—and a free printable—help you speak love that sticks.
Last week, my son froze as I was reaching for the door into a new activity he'd been talking about for days. "I changed my mind," he said. I saw the worry in his face, and I wanted to scoop him up and keep him safe in my arms.
Instead, I slipped my hand around his and we repeated a few simple words together:
"I am brave. I am ready. I can do this."
It wasn't magic. But he let go of my hand. He took a deep breath. And he walked through that door.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned—raising four wildly different, wonderful kids and creating parent-child journals now used by over 600,000 families—it’s this:
Our words matter.
The ones we say again and again? Those are the words that stick. Kids carry them like treasures in their backpacks, whisper them to themselves on hard days, let them shape the way they see the world—and themselves.
But just as much as they need encouragement, they need room to be real. To feel a little scared. To say the hard things and know they won’t be shut down or shamed for it.
That’s where we come in—not with perfect answers, but with open hearts and a steady presence.
So today, I’m sharing 20 of our favorite affirmations—plus a free printable to tuck on your fridge, mirror, or wherever your family gathers.
Why Positive Affirmations Matter
Affirmations aren’t just a feel-good trend—they’re one of the simplest, most powerful ways to build courage from the inside out. They don’t have to be perfect. Or poetic. They just have to be true. And repeated.
When a child hears encouraging words from someone they trust, those words start to settle in. They become part of the child’s inner voice—showing up in quiet moments, in hard moments, in moments when they need a gentle reminder of who they are and what they’re capable of.
Here’s what a simple affirmation can do:
- Boost confidence and self-esteem by planting tiny seeds of worth
- Shift a mindset from fear or failure to possibility and resilience
- Deepen your connection with a child by saying, "I see you—and I believe in you"
- Empower kids to approach hard things with a sense of calm and purpose
And here’s the quiet magic: affirmations remind kids they don’t have to earn love or prove their worth. It’s already there. Already theirs.
20 Positive Affirmations for Kids
Say one while brushing hair. Slip it into a backpack. Whisper it in the dark, right before sleep.
These moments might feel small—but they stick. They add up. And one day, they become the voice your child hears when they need it most.
- I am kind
- I am strong
- I am loved
- I am helpful
- I am a good friend
- I can try again
- I can learn new things
- I am enough
- I am brave
- I make good choices
- I have great ideas
- I believe in myself
- I’m proud of who I am
- I can ask for help
- I can do hard things
- I am thoughtful
- I am safe
- I matter
- I am calm and in control
- I am growing every day
Want These Affirmations as a Free Printable?
I’ve put all 20 affirmations into a beautiful, kid-friendly design you can print and hang up today. It's completely free—just tell me where to send it:
(You’ll also get The Family Treehouse—my free weekly printable and connection ideas, sent to thousands of teachers and families every week. It’s our favorite place to grow together. Unsubscribe anytime.)
Want Even More Screen-Free Connection?
If your kids liked these affirmations, you’ll love the Encouragement Printable Pack—7 simple, joyful activities designed to build confidence and connection.
From coloring pages to lunchbox notes, this $7 bundle turns ordinary moments into powerful little rituals.
[Grab it here.]
You're Doing Better Than You Think.
Every child carries an inner voice—and you are one of the biggest voices they hear. Your encouragement, your words, your belief in them—it echoes.
When you say, "You are kind," or "You are brave," or "You can do hard things," it doesn’t just hang in the air. It settles in. It becomes something they say to themselves when you’re not there.
One day, they’ll whisper it before a test, or a big decision, or a tough moment: “I am brave. I am ready. I can do this.”
And when they do, you’ll know—that voice came from you.
Love,
Katie
Maybe tuck one of these affirmations in your pocket—or write it down in a mother son journal or mother daughter journal. These aren’t just words. They’re seeds of connection, and they grow.