75 Phrases and Words of Encouragement for Kids of All Ages

As parents, we all want to help boost our kids' self-esteem and find words and phrases that will motivate, encourage and inspire our children to reach their full potential. These encouraging phrases and inspirational quotes are sure to have a positive impact on your child's self-confidence, resilience and overall mood.

More: 10 Positive Parenting Phrases to Use With Toddlers

Forward-Looking Words of Encouragement:

• Your only limit is your imagination.
• Make the most of the time you have. There will never be another you.
• You are capable of so many things.
• Chase your dreams instead of running from your fears.
• Your actions can change the world.
• Don’t forget to have fun during the journey.
• You are connected to a family, a community, a world. Use your power wisely.
• “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” -E.E. Cummings
• Make your dreams big; you will grow into them.

Encouraging Words to Promote Perseverance and a Growth Mindset:

• Mistakes make your brain grow.
• Keep your eye on the prize.
• Don’t give up, and start what you finish.
• "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." --Albert Einstein
• Be positive, patient and persistent.
• When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.
• “Just keep swimming.” –Dory
• Tough times never last. Tough people do.
• "Most of the really exciting things we do in our lives scare us to death. They wouldn't be exciting if they didn't." --Roald Dahl
• Take a break and come back to it.
• You have so much room to grow as long as you don’t give up.
• “Everyone you admire was once a beginner.” –Jack Butcher
• Nobody is perfect, that’s why pencils have erasers.
• If plan A doesn’t work out, the alphabet has 25 more letters.
• “Failure is not falling down; it is not getting up again.” –Mary Pickford

Phrases to Foster Compassion and Kindness:

• “The time is always right to do what is right.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
• If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours
• You'll never regret being a good friend.
• The strongest souls have the softest hearts.
• “Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” -Maya Angelou
• Find joy in others’ joy.
• “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” -Aesop
• Be the one who makes others feel included.
• “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” -Dalai Lama
• Throw kindness around like confetti.
• Your compassion for others is wonderful.

Positive Words to Highlight Your Child's Personal Strengths:

• “You are braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” –Christopher Robin
• The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.
• "Listen to the inner voice and bravely obey that." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
• You were born to be real, not to be perfect.
• “She was powerful, not because she wasn’t scared, but because she went on so strongly despite the fear.” –Atticus
• Never trust your fears; they don’t know your strength.
• I like your unique sense of style.
• “It’s easy to stand in the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone.” –Mahatma Gandhi

Positivity to Help Turn a Bad Day Around:

• This feeling will pass.
• You've already survived 100 percent of your bad days.
• It's ok not to be ok. Just know that you're not alone.
• "Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." --Theodore Roosevelt
• You wouldn’t know what a good day was if you didn’t have a few bad ones.
• Everyone feels scared sometimes.
• Grow through what you go through.
• We do get do-overs.
• What you are feeling is normal.
• Everyone has things to work on.
• Not all days are bad.
• Pause and focus on your breathing.
• “You can’t stop people from saying bad things about you. All you can do is make them liars.” –Thomas Sowell
• The end of one thing is the beginning of something else.
• Think of one thing that made you smile today.

Messages to Set the Tone for the Day:

• It’s a good day to have a good day.
• “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.” –Stephen Hawking
• Let your light shine today.
• Focus on what brings you energy, not what sucks it away.
• Do things for joy or for learning, not for attention.
• “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” -Dr. Seuss

Simple Loving Words to Boost Your Child's Self-Worth

• I’m proud of you.
• I love spending time with you.
• My world is better with you in it.
• I’m listening.
• You can talk to me about anything.
• You’re not like anyone else, and that makes me happy.
• There is nothing you can do that would make me stop loving you.
• I love the way your mind works.
• You have a good heart.
• I believe in you.
• I believe you.

Building your child’s self-esteem cannot only be done with positive parenting and words of encouragement, but also by teaching kids about positive affirmations. Here are 10 Positive Affirmations for Kids + How to Use Them.