Last month I wrote 15 Ways to Integrate Yoga Into Your School Day and #8 was Weekly Mantras. I can not imagine what my life would have been like with a list of mantras or affirmations up in my classroom to support me when I needed to return back to myself during the school day.
That's why I wanted to dive deeper into the idea of mantras in the classroom and give you a list of my favourites. I hope these ideas can be helpful for you whether you're a classroom teacher, kids yoga teacher, or working with kids in any other capacity.
Mantra vs. Affirmation - what's the difference? A mantra is a sacred sound, word or phrase - often in Sanskrit - that is repeated during spiritual practice to liberate the mind, and connect with divine energy. Affirmations are English-language, goal-oriented statements that are designed to re-wire thinking and boost self-worth. You get to choose which word you like using best in your classes. Here, I'm choosing mantra to honour the depth and tradition that this word holds along with the sacredness and spirituality of it that I wish to pass on to the students I teach.
20 Mantras For Kids In The Classroom:
-"I am learning"
-"This feels hard because it is hard"
-"I am proud of myself"
-"I trust myself"
-"I will keep trying"
-"I am enough"
-"I am smart and capable"
-"I am unique and special"
-"I can do hard things"
-"Everything is difficult before it gets easy"
-"Mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow"
-"I choose to be positive"
-"One step at a time"
-"What I'm doing right now is enough"
-"I am a good friend"
-"I am loved just the way I am"
-"I choose Mama Earth over convenience"
-"There's always a solution"
-"I can ask for help"
-"There's always room for one more"
And as a bonus, I love asking kids "Do you need privacy or company?"
I hope these mantras serve the children that you teach well. You can choose a few of these phrases that you find meaningful to work into your teaching practice. You could also choose one to go along with your teaching objectives or themes for the month.
We're not going for quantity, rather quality and repetition so that the children in your care can use these words to return back to themselves, re-wire their thinking, and boost their self-worth.