30 Encouragements for Any Baby (or Big Kid!)

Positive Words for Kids of ALL Ages!

Research has shown time and time again what a powerful impact words have on outcome. Both positive and negative language have the transformative power to make situations better or worse. This is true for people of all ages and the effects can be found both from self talk and the language used around you. Positive language helps children to succeed and thrive.

Knowing this, I’ve sought to be intentional with the language I use around my daughter. I want to empower, encourage, and validate her. But I’ll be honest, sometimes it can be a stretch for me to find affirming statements when I don’t know much about her personality yet. She’s only 8 months old–her personality and ability to express who she is is still developing. 

After recognizing this, I set out to make a list of encouraging affirmations to use with my baby. Here are some of the ones I use the most often.

1. You are so strong.
2. I hear you.
3. You are very observant.
4. You are helpful.
5. You are loved.
6. You are patient.
7. You are such a healthy eater.
8. Your brain is amazing.
9. You are trying so hard. That is awesome! (This is a good one for when she’s frustrated)
10. You are creative.
11. You make me smile.
12. You are so good at communicating. (This is a good one for when she’s upset)
13. You are great at expressing yourself. (This is a good one for when she’s upset)
14. It is wonderful how energetic you are.
15. It is important to tell someone how you feel. Thank you. (This is a good one for when she’s upset)
16. You are such a great problem solver.
17. You are safe. (This is a good one for when she’s upset)
18. You are so talented.
19. I love learning about who you are.
20. You are important.
21. You have a kind heart.
22. You are very focused.
23. You are capable.
24. You are a good decision maker. (This makes the most sense to use after offering her a choice)
25. You are a great learner.
26. I’m listening.
27. You are a good listener.
28. You are interesting.
29. I believe in you.
30. I love you.

My hope is that as my daughter grows and I learn more about who she is, this list will grow too! I hope this list gave you a few ideas for positive phrases to use with your child. I would love to hear any other phrases you use in the comments below!