Words of Encouragement for Kids: 75 Encouraging Phrases

A simple word of encouragement, spoken sincerely, can lift someone up like nothing else. Especially for our children. Whether they let on or not, our kids constantly crave our love and approval.

As an educator and parent, I make "corrections" every day. It is crucial to balance correction with encouragement, to support self-confidence while showing that none of us are perfect. I have to be mindful that we all need grace.

Take the time to speak daily words of affirmation into their lives. Read through these 75 encouraging phrases, pick a few favorites, and use them often. Or choose a new one each morning, to use sometime during the day.

List of Encouraging Words for Children

To make this list more structured and easier to use, I organized the words and affirmations into smaller category groups for different occasions.

Encourage your kids just for who they are…

1. I love you.
2. I’m proud of you.
3. You’re my son/daughter.
4. You make my heart smile.
5. I’m glad you’re my kid.
6. I trust you.
7. You’re the best.
8. I really like you.
9. You look beautiful.
10. I love your smile.
11. Thank you so much!
12. Can I keep you forever?
13. I love spending time with you.
14. You’re pretty awesome.

A caution: Empty praise—flattery—is easy to see through, and overpraising has been found detrimental for children’s self-confidence and performance. But when praise is genuine and earned, it’s priceless.

Encourage your kids when they’re trying…

1. I believe in you.
2. You can do it.
3. You’re working so hard.
4. You’re getting a lot better at that.
5. Keep up the good work!
6. Don’t give up.
7. Way to use your brain!
8. Looking good.
9. Can you show me how you do that?
10. Nice try—do it again.
11. Let’s do it together.
12. You’ll be a pro in no time!
13. I think it’s great that’s you’re trying something new.

Encourage your kids when they do a good job…

1. Well done, son/daughter.
2. Can I take a picture of that?
3. You amaze me sometimes.
4. Did you seriously just do that?
5. Let me text your Dad and tell him what you just did.
6. High five!
7. Hey, that was really good/exquisite/excellent/splendid/magnificent/superb.
8. You did it!
9. Thanks for being such a good helper.
10. You were right.
11. Wow, I’ve never done that before!
12. Let me see that again.
13. I think that’s your best one yet.
14. I’m impressed.

Encourage your kids when they mess up…

1. I love you no matter what.
2. It’s ok.
3. I forgive you.
4. No big deal.
5. Let me help you.
6. We can clean that up.
7. Everybody messes up.
8. I’m not worried about it.
9. You’ll do better next time.
10. Everyone has a bad day once in a while.
11. What did you learn or next time?
12. Do you need a hug?

Encourage your kids when they’re feeling low…

1. Are you okay?
2. I’m listening.
3. I’m here for you.
4. How can I help?
5. I’m sorry.
6. It’s ok to cry.
7. I don’t blame you.
8. Let’s get ice cream/coffee.
9. I was wrong.
10. I know you’ll make the right choice.
11. Be the bigger person.

Encourage your kids when their character shows…

1. Thank you for telling the truth.
2. That was generous of you.
3. I love your compassionate heart.
4. Good job being patient.
5. I love your good attitude.
6. You have a great sense of humor.
7. I like that you got up and tried again.
8. I appreciate your honesty.
9. Way to persevere!
10. I’m proud of you for thinking of others.
11. You made them feel really good.

The Best Type of Encouragement

When Stanford psychologists analyzed different types of praise that mothers gave to their 1-year-old to 3-year-old children, they found that praising effort, not talent, led to greater motivation and more positive attitudes toward challenges five years later.

It's better to focus on effort and the action your baby is doing. "You worked hard on that" versus "you're so good at that."

— Stanford psychology Professor Carol S. Dweck [source]

Finding Opportunities & Making a Habit of Speaking Encouragement

Allow your kids opportunities to shine: “We should see if Holly wants to make the cookies for that event. She’s a great cook.” or “Wait till you see Lizzy do the splits!”

Let your kids know you’re proud of them. Let them “overhear” you saying good things about them to others. “Hey Jordan, will you look at the DVD player, please? (He’s always fixing stuff like that).”

As you begin to make a habit of speaking encouragement to your kids, you will find it lifting your own spirits, too. You’ll find yourself more grateful. You’ll develop a more positive attitude. And it’s catching, too—see if you don’t hear your kids begin to encourage those around them! You can even have your kids write their own list of ideas for encouraging others.