Georgia Teacher Strives to Instill Confidence in Her Kindergartners

Anyunna Phillips Barack H. Obama Elementary Magnet School of Technology Affirmation

By Camille Hutchison , Parent Herald Nov 02, 09:26 am

Anyunna Phillips, commonly known by her students as Miss P., wanted her kindergartner students to affirm themselves one at a time. The teacher went viral as she aimed to instill confidence and build up her students at Barack H. Obama Elementary Magnet School of Technology in Atlanta. She also shared a glimpse of her classroom life with tens of thousands of followers through her Instagram account named @cool.missp, per Good Morning America.

One of her popular videos with more than 20,000 likes featured some of her students walking up to a mirror in their classroom and proudly reciting affirmations like "I'm not afraid of anything!" and "I'm strong!" The Georgia teacher keeps a mirror in her classroom decorated with words of encouragement. The teacher encourages her student to use the mirror as a positive tool.

The educator said she wanted her students to feel empowered and let them know that they could do anything. Phillips is a passionate teacher who has taught for the last seven years. She chose to teach to make a difference and wanted her students to learn how to be good individuals in this world while helping them build confidence and self-love.

Why is affirmation important among children?

Affirmations may appear as mere statements, but little do parents know that these statements can do so much for kids as it helps them to remind themselves that they are worthy of love and can do anything. These statements can gradually become mantras, particularly when said over and over to oneself, out loud or silently. These are usually accompanied by imagining themselves as they make their proclamations; over time, these statements will become beliefs.

The teacher said reciting affirmations "sets the tone for the day." Thus, she wanted her students to always remember their capabilities, especially when they believe in themselves. This is the main point of the educator, adding that the affirmation does not end at the mirror as she also reminds them of those affirmations. She said these affirmations boost students' mood, mental health, and social and emotional learning.

Affirmations promote a growth mindset and help combat intrusive negative thoughts and emotions, including those pesky A.N.T.s or Automatic Negative Thoughts. Thus, affirmations are a powerful tool for children struggling to manage and handle their feelings, Mightier says.

Does positive affirmation/s work in kids?

Parents, including adults, can affect the development of the child's brain and mental and emotional health. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy mainly focuses on how thought patterns and self-talk influence the emotional and behavioral state. Thus, kids need to adopt a positive mindset as their brains develop.

Phillips encourages others to try it themselves as it establishes a ripple effect, particularly helpful for kids but also applicable for adults.

Affirmations can inspire and motivate action on certain things. It also helps a person to concentrate on achieving the goals they have set for themselves. Positive Parenting Project says positive affirmation effectively nurtures a child's well-being as the child learns certain behaviors and wires their brains.