Giving our kids the power of positive thought and confidence is a constant request in the Cafe. I thought we were doing pretty well until my son had a meltdown over a comment a friend made more than a week earlier! He had held in these negative thoughts all on his own, stressing out his little 8-year-old body with tossing and turnin each night and dwelling on what this kid had said off-handedly. I realized no matter how chill my kids seem to be, I don’t know what’s going on in their self-worth department as they grow. We are hitting the tweens pretty hard and checking in has made a difference in how they handle peer pressure and snide comments.
There are more curriculums that are incorporating positive mindset as part of their daily routine. As homeschoolers, there are a few options to bring positive mindset habits into your child’s daily routine.
Everything Starts with a Thought
It is important for kids to understand that their thoughts are important. Their thoughts about themselves and their abilities are the first step to any result they get in life.
When you truly understand the power of your mindset, that laundry list of expectations and things you must do to succeed will be less daunting and more rewarding.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the observation of one’s own thoughts and emotions.
Mindfulness focuses your attention to the way that you handle events, particularly triggers, and to how your thoughts and emotions normally control your actions and reactions. The practice of mindfulness allows you to anticipate these difficult triggers, to deal with them and ultimately prevent them.
Tips to Teach a Positive or Growth Mindset
Present positive mindset in a way that is fun and engaging and is simple to implement. It shouldn’t take more than 5 to 10 minutes a day to complete. After working on a curriculum or journal, talk with your child about what they may have felt.
A great way to train kids’ brains to improve their thoughts is to teach them positive affirmations. Saying affirmations each day will help kids feel good about themselves and the world, and with time, it will train their brains to believe positive things about themselves and the world.
Resources for Parents
Raising Empowered Kids is a Facebook groupwhere parents can ask questions and get free tips and information about how to raise their child’s self-confidence and emotional intelligence. For more info on raising confident kids, follow her page Our Kids Empowered.
