As parents, one of our responsibilities is to prepare our kids to one day become happy and independent. To do that, it's important to tell them kind words.
As Muslims, we're encouraged to be kind to those around us.
'A'isha (r.a.) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Verily Allah is Kind and loves kindness, and He rewards for kindness in a way that He does not reward for harshness or for anything else." Al Bukhari and Muslim
Here are 10 positive phrases to say to your children to help boost their confidence.
1.I love you
Saying 'I love you' may not be common in many cultures, but no matter where one is from, it makes a positive difference to hear it. Of course, showing love is more crucial, but hearing it is reassuring and the cherry on the cake. Make it a habit to tell your children that you love them as it would make them feel good about themselves and become more confident.
2. I love seeing you happy
Telling your children that you love seeing them happy encourages them to show more happiness and makes them happier around you.
3. I love hearing your opinions
Just because they are young doesn't mean their opinions should be disregarded. The more we encourage our kids to express themselves, the more confident they would be as adults. It also makes it easier for us to bond with them, understand them and reduces the need for emotional guesting game.
4. I like when you ...
It's important for children to know when they do things right. Constantly getting criticism can crash their confidence and makes them think low of themselves. Be specific on what you like to see them do. It would encourage them to do more.
5. You're very smart
No matter what, avoid calling your children names that denigrate them or their intelligence. Tell your kids that they are smart and encourage them on whatever they do that nurtures their intelligence.
6. I'm proud of you
Children love to see their parents proud of them. Contrary to what some people may think, they actually love making people happy. Just because kids may sometimes have a tantrum or cry at the mall doesn't mean they purposely do that to make adults angry. That's just one way for them to express their feelings, especially when they're must younger. Make it clear to them that you're proud of them in a gentle way and see how it would change their expression.
7. I like spending time with you
Make a habit to spend quality time with your kids and remove all distractions such as phone and TV. In addition, let them know that you enjoy spending them with them. It would make them happy and look forward to more quality time with you.
8. You're doing much better
When you see your kids making progress in whatever they are working on, telling them would encourage them to do even better.
9. You are a kind friend
Encourage your children to be kind to their friends and people around them by telling them that they are kind. Emphasize on any small act of kindness they do and encourage them to keep doing that. The more encouragement they receive, the kinder it would make them.
10. We all make mistakes
It's crucial for kids to know that everyone makes mistakes. Kids see their parents and guardians as figures of authority and may forget that they too could sometimes be wrong. This can be an issue especially when they make mistakes and feel terrible about themselves. But if they hear that making mistakes is a normal human trait, it would remove the burden they may feel when they err. Hearing this could also prevent them from putting unnecessary blames upon themselves when their parents are in the wrong.
Children are the product of their environment. They thrive when they are surrounded by love and positivity and dim when surrounded by harshness and negativity. So it's important to encourage them by often telling them kind words.
