10 Powerful Positive Affirmations & Mindfulness Techniques for Kids: Emotional Regulation Series Part 5
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As an elementary teacher, you know how big emotions can completely take over a child’s day. That’s why teaching positive affirmations and mindfulness techniques for kids is such a game-changer. These strategies empower little ones to regulate their emotions, build confidence, and find calm even in chaotic or stressful moments. When students learn to pause, breathe, and remind themselves of their worth, they develop emotional regulation skills that not only will benefit them as elementary students but throughout all of life!
Welcome to Part 5 of the Emotional Regulation Series here at One Giggle at a Time. If you’ve already been following along, you know we’ve covered sensory tools, calm down strategies, relaxation techniques, and breathing exercises. This week, we’re diving into how mindfulness and positive affirmations for kids can provide greater support for your students as they learn to manage their emotions.
Pause and Catch Up
In case you missed the earlier parts of the Emotional Regulation Series, pause to check them out now:
- Part 1: Calming and Sensory Tools
- Part 2: Calm Down Strategies
- Part 3: Relaxation Techniques
- Part 4: Breathing Exercises
What are Mindfulness Techniques?
Mindfulness is a person’s ability to pay attention to the present moment in a calm and focused way. For kids, this also means that they understand how to identify their own emotions and respond thoughtfully— instead of reacting impulsively.
Why Mindfulness Techniques for Kids Matter
Teaching mindfulness techniques to kids gives them the necessary tools to manage stress, anxiety, and frustration.
These strategies also help students learn to be present in the moment and stay engaged. As they become more mindful, they will also become more aware of the feelings of others and develop a greater sense of compassion.
5 Effective Mindfulness Techniques
Use this Mindfulness Activities resource to confidently teach your students these 5 effective strategies and more:
- Sensory Check-ins: Students draw or write five things they see, four they hear, three they feel, two they smell, and one they taste.
- Mindful Coloring: Students focus on coloring calming patterns as they read positive statements about themselves.
- Identifying Emotions: Students draw pictures of things that make them feel angry or joyful.
- Take Five & Remind: Students take time to remember five important things about themselves.
- Celebrating Great Effort: Students write down lists of things they are doing great at and other things that they are still learning to do.
Share the included mindfulness handouts with parents to keep families informed about what their students are learning and increase the positive home and school connection for students!
What are Positive Affirmations?
Just like mindfulness helps kids manage their emotions, positive affirmations for kids help them shape their self-talk. The words they say to themselves are powerful, and they need reminders that they ARE capable, loved, and strong.
Why Positive Affirmations for Kids Matter
When students practice positive affirmations regularly, they build confidence and resilience and are able to better handle challenges when they come their way.
5 Positive Affirmations to Boost Confidence
Using the Positive Affirmations Coloring Pages & Posters, students can color worksheets with uplifting messages like:
- “I only compare myself to myself.”
- “I believe in myself.”
- “Today is going to be great!”
- “I am prepared to succeed.”
- “I am valuable.”
Print these 5 affirmations and over 30 more to decorate your classroom or hallway bulletin board or share with individual students as special encouragement throughout the day.
The pocket-sized cards are also the perfect touch for your calm down corner. Place them all in a large can without a lid, and encourage kids to pull one (or a few!) out to read when they’re feeling sad or stressed.
How Mindfulness & Positive Affirmations Work Together
Mindfulness techniques and positive affirmations for kids go hand in hand when it comes to emotional regulation. When a child feels overwhelmed, they can use a mindfulness strategy to calm down, then follow up with a positive affirmation to reframe their thinking.
Example: A student chooses to think of five things that make them smile to calm their anxiety. Then, they say to themselves, “I am strong and capable of doing hard things.”
This combination helps reinforce their emotional capabilities!
Making Mindfulness & Affirmations Part of Your Classroom Routine
Finally, to make these strategies really work and become meaningful for students, you need to be consistent.
Weave mindfulness techniques and positive affirmations for kids into many moments throughout your daily schedule:
- During Morning Meeting to prepare students for the day ahead
- Throughout the day to encourage self-awareness, patience, and kindness
- During Classroom Transitions to help students shift their focus and prepare for learning
- As a part of your Calm Down Corner to help students take a moment to reset ⬇️
Come back soon for the next segment of the Emotional Regulation Series, and learn how to create a Calming corner that truly helps your students process their big feelings. As a bonus, you’ll learn about several great books to include in this calm down space!
Teaching positive affirmations and mindfulness techniques for kids isn’t just about managing tough moments in the classroom— it’s about building skills that students can carry with them for life! Integrating these practices into your classroom equips students with the tools they need to work through big emotions, build confidence, and create a positive mindset. Try some of these strategies today, and I promise you’ll start seeing the difference they make in your students’ well-being so soon!
Let me know if you have any questions about anything you see here. Don’t forget to pin this post to refer to it later!
Other posts you may enjoy:
EASY Action Steps to Strengthen Executive Functioning Skills in Children
11 ENGAGING Ways to Teach Social-Emotional Learning in the Classroom
How Social Skills Stories Build the Positive Classroom Climate You Are Craving
GUIDE STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING A GROWTH MINDSET WITH THESE
Free Growth Mindset Punch Cards
The perfect way to start meaningful habits and conversations with your students!
Diane Romo
Thank you for being here! I love sharing ideas with other teachers! If you are looking to enhance your teaching and build a positive classroom community, you have come to the right place!
