Brave & Kind

Printable affirmation cards

Brave & Kind

strong and gentle, confident and caring

48 affirmations for every kid, each with a little "Try it" so they practice what the words mean: inviting someone to play, naming a feeling, saying a calm "no," or standing next to a friend who is being picked on.

$7 USD Instant download

Buy now · $7 Also on Etsy

54 cards, 6 per page, US Letter and A4
Full color and ink-saver versions
For personal and single-classroom use

Made by Hygge Collective

What's inside

54 cards, ready to print

Welcome card

Every child can be brave and kind, strong and gentle.

For grown-ups

Four simple steps for using the cards at breakfast, bedtime or on the way to school.

Affirmation cards

Eight in each of six themes: Brave, Kind, Speak Up, Feelings, Strong and Open Heart. Every one has a Try it.

Write your own

Blank cards for your family's own affirmations.

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A woodland back

Trees and forest animals on every card when you print double-sided.

Six themes

A taste of the cards

One card from each theme. Every card is for every child: anyone can be strong, and anyone can be kind.

Brave

I can feel nervous and do it anyway.

Try it: Where do you feel nervous in your body? Take three slow breaths.

Kind

I am a helper.

Try it: Find one way to help at home today.

Speak Up

I am an upstander.

Try it: If someone was being picked on, who could you stand next to?

Feelings

It’s okay to cry. Everyone does.

Try it: Grown-ups, share something that made you cry.

Strong

I can take up space.

Try it: Stretch as tall and as wide as you can.

Open Heart

Anyone can be strong. Anyone can be kind.

Try it: Who do you know who is both?

Why "Try it"?

Say it, then practice it

Words shape how children see themselves, and practice turns words into habits. A study in the journal Child Development found young children helped more when they were invited to "be a helper" than when they were simply asked to help, so many cards use "I am" words. Developmental psychologists also found that children who practiced what to say out loud were far more likely to speak up when they heard something unfair than children who only heard stories about it.

Sources: Bryan, Master and Walton, Child Development (2014); Lamb, Bigler, Liben and Green, Sex Roles (2009).

Formats

Print it your way

Instant download

Your files are ready straight after checkout. Nothing is shipped.

US Letter and A4

Both paper sizes are included, each with cut lines and crop marks.

Full color or ink-saver

The ink-saver version has a light card back that's kind to your printer.

Home and classroom

Licensed for personal use and for use in a single classroom.

Questions

Good to know

What do I get after I buy?

Four PDF files: US Letter and A4, each in full color and an ink-saver version. Every file has a short note on why the cards work, a printing guide and 54 cards, 6 to a page, at 3.25 inches square. Download them right away and print as many sets as you need for your own family.

What ages is it for?

The cards are written for children around 3 to 9. Little ones can say the words along with a grown-up and act out the Try it, and older kids can read them on their own.

Any printing tips?

Print at 100% or "actual size", on cardstock if you have it.
For the woodland backs, print double-sided and choose "flip on long edge". Or just print the fronts.
Cut along the thin lines. A paper trimmer and a corner punch make them feel like a real deck.

Are the cards for boys or girls?

Both, and everyone. No card is meant for one gender. Some cards even help kids answer back when they hear "boys don't" or "girls can't."

Can I use it in my classroom?

Yes. Your purchase covers personal use at home and use in one classroom. Please do not share, resell or upload the files. More detail is on our license page.

Can I get a refund?

Because this is a digital download that can't be returned, sales are generally final. If something is wrong with your files, they won't open, or you bought the wrong item by mistake, just write to us and we will make it right.

Tomorrow at breakfast

Pick a card and try it together

Print the cards, keep them in a tin by the table, and let your little one pick the first one.

Buy now · $7

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