6 WAYS TO AFFIRM YOUR STUDENT EVERY MORNING
6 WAYS TO AFFIRM YOUR STUDENT EVERY MORNING
You certainly don’t have to do all of these every single day. But if you make it a routine to do two or three of them, the long-term effect will have a significant impact on your kids’ hearts. Here are 6 affirmations for students every morning.
1. Say, "I love you"
You can never tell your kids “I love you” enough. Your actions mean a great deal, but your words can be equally as powerful. I want my kids to remember their dad not only showed his love often but said it often, too. As a side note, you’ll notice the rest of these ways to affirm your kids are extensions of saying “I love you.”
2. Say, “I’m glad you’re my daughter/son.”
It’s one thing to say “I love you” to your kids, but do your kids think you like them? Do they know you delight in them? I often try to tell my daughters that I’m glad they’re my daughters. Don’t give kids reasons to doubt whether you value them or not. If they don’t think you’re glad to be their dad, they will find someone who will be glad to value them—and that may not always be good for them.
3. Let them know their identity in Jesus Christ
Your son or daughter needs help forming his or her identity. Without a strong identity, kids can fall into risky behavior and lack confidence. Let your children know that they are loved by God and are a child of God. I want my kids to know that no matter what names someone may call them or what pressures they face, they are children of God.
4. Hug them
Our kids need affection and healthy physical touch. I will never refuse to hug my kids, no matter how old they get. Saying “I love you” gets to your kid’s heart through the ears. A hug gets to your kid’s heart through touch. You not only convey love to your kids when you hug them, but you convey the safety, strength, and closeness they need.
5. Make breakfast for them
Full disclosure, this is something my wife does at our house (I’m not much of a morning person). Our middle daughter loves to bake and I on some Saturday mornings I will awake to fresh baked muffins that they had created together. It is a simple, tangible way to say “I love you.”
6. Write them a note/text
Full disclosure again, my wife is better at this than I am, but depending on your kids’ ages, write them a short note and stick it in their lunch box or wherever else they’ll see it. Recently I will text my oldest a random “I love you” meme during school. It’s another reminder that their dad loves them. It could simply be “I love you” or a reminder of something funny that happened recently between you. The point is to remind them you think of them.
30 DAY CHALLENGE
For the next 30 days, commit to affirming your kids every morning.