Wellbeing
Boosting Positive Self-Talk
Welcome back to our first installment of the year of the Galilee Wellbeing Toolbox!
If you're new here, welcome! This is a space dedicated to sharing valuable tips and tricks for nurturing the wellbeing of our Galilee kids.
Helping Your Child Develop a Confident Inner Voice
As parents and carers we all want our children to grow up feeling confident, resilient and capable of handling challenges. One powerful way to support their emotional wellbeing is by fostering positive self-talk—the way they speak to themselves in their own minds.
What is Positive Self-Talk?
Positive self-talk is the habit of using encouraging and affirming words when thinking about oneself. Children who engage in positive self-talk are more likely to take on challenges, bounce back from setbacks and develop a strong sense of self-worth. On the other hand negative self-talk (“I can’t do this” or “I always mess up”) can hold them back and create self-doubt.
The Power of Self-Distancing
A simple but effective strategy to help children engage in positive self-talk is self-distancing—teaching them to speak to themselves as if they were speaking to a friend. Instead of saying, “I’m not good at maths” a child can say, “Alex you are trying your best and getting better every day.”
Research has shown that using one’s own name or speaking in the third person creates emotional distance making it easier to take on a positive and encouraging perspective. For example:
- Instead of, “I’ll never make new friends” encourage your child to say, “Emma you are a kind and friendly person. You can do this!”
- Instead of, “I always get things wrong” they can try, “James, everyone makes mistakes and mistakes help us learn!”
How You Can Help
Here are a few ways you can encourage positive self-talk at home:
- Model It – Show your child how you use positive self-talk. For example, “Dad, you did a great job cooking dinner tonight!”
- Practise Together – When your child is struggling, guide them by saying, “Let’s try talking to yourself like you would to a friend.”
- Use Visual Cues – Write positive affirmations on sticky notes or create a “kind words” jar where your child can pick a self-encouraging phrase when they need a boost.
- Celebrate Effort – Focus on praising their effort rather than just the outcome. “Liam, you worked so hard on that project. That’s something to be proud of!”
By teaching children to talk to themselves with kindness and encouragement we help them build confidence and resilience that will last a lifetime.
Julie Ferguson and Paddy Edwards
Wellbeing Leaders