I AM…
​
THOUGHTS BECOME WORDS
WORDS BECOME ACTIONS
ACTIONS BECOME HABITS
​HABITS BECOME CHARACTER
​ CHARACTER IS EVERYTHING

 We all talk to ourselves and what we say and how we say it can have a huge impact on who we become. Children are often unaware of what they about themselves and this activity is meant to help shine a spotlight on this.

Activity: I Am…
Ages: 5-10
Materials:
paper
(large size or several pieces taped together), scissors, crayons and markers

Begin by asking the child to draw a picture of themselves on the paper and then cut it out. Once they are done, place the picture on the fridge or wall. 

Take pieces of paper and write the words  I am… on several. Each time you hear the child say an “I am” statement, either positive or not so positive, write it on the paper and have the child or you place it on the picture. This will require extra attention from you to listen to what they are saying about themselves. 

At the end of the week, sit down with your child and go over the statements. See how many positive statements compared to not so positive statements there are on the picture.  Explain that what they say about themselves, they will attract into their lives. If you can, give them examples of how this might happen. If they want to become something different they have to talk to and about themselves differently, and sometimes this means not paying attention to what others say about them also.  

​Repeat the exercise another week and challenge them to get more positives on the picture. You can repeat this activity as many times as you like. The Backpack ​is a book for preteens and young adults that challenges them to rethink what words they choose to describe themselves and have allowed others to use to describe them.