6 Great Ways to Help Kids Celebrate Individuality
/Whether through affirmations, confidence-boosting yoga poses, storytelling, or fun children’s songs about individuality, there are many ways we can help kids celebrate their own unique story — and appreciate the individuality and diversity in others!
Children have the best ideas. Sometimes the role of the teacher or parent/caregiver is to provide scaffolding so a child can get to work putting in place a more elaborate structure. We love using music, movement, and mindfulness as a framework to get started.
Here are 6 great ways we can help our children find joy in their uniqueness, encourage individuality, and celebrate diversity.
1. Sing “If I Could Be” with a Group
“If I Could Be Any Animal In The Jungle” (or the less wordy, “If I Could Be…”) is a great example of how to encourage children and say YES to their ideas. The animal themed children’s song allows each child to take a turn and describe the type of animal they’d be.
The group can then celebrate what makes this animal special, together. After we “sleep” in child's pose, another child takes a turn.
READ NEXT: Animal themed songs and kids yoga
2. Try Affirmation Yoga
We’re big fans of affirmation yoga for kids (and grown ups too!) Affirmations create mindfulness and help us practice well-being, and many yoga postures help boost our confidence, open our hearts, and makes us feel grounded.
These are essential attributes when building strength in individuality, and by pairing words of affirmation we help kids shine their inner light and pass the torch on to others!
3. Let Children Take the Lead
There is something special and empowering about allowing children to take the lead. While the idea may be scary at first (because we love them and want to protect them), we soon realize that when we let go and encourage new ideas and risk-taking in a safe environment, we encourage creativity and individuality.
When’s the last time you said “Yes” to your children's ideas? Try it!
4. Encourage Change
What is special about each one of us is that we are always growing. Our knowledge about things change. Our understanding changes. Our preferences change. And that personal transformation is what makes us unique.
To encourage individuality we must create a non-judgemental, welcoming space for change and transformation. This Caterpillar/Chrysalis/Butterfly yoga flow is one way we can demonstrate change to children and encourage transformation.
READ NEXT: Activities to Encourage Growth and Transformation
5. Read Diverse Books
We love reading diverse children’s books about mindfulness, individuality, feelings, and affirmations. In celebrating our differences we are able to honor diversity and individualism. Here is a list of diverse kids books about mindfulness to get started!
6. Embrace Your Rainbow Energy and Sing “I am a Rainbow”
Welcome children to sing along with our fun and inspirational Rainbow song! By exploring the different rainbow energies in our body, we can nurture self-awareness.
Assigning affirmations to each color, body area, and feeling helps promote empathy and emotional self-regulation in kids — and important trait as we grow as individuals!
What are your favorite ways to encourage individualism in children?
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