The fourth-graders walk up to a mirror — one after another — at a school in southwest Atlanta.
"I'm a good person!" a boy 1 a face mask adds.
Another boy follows, "I'm strong and 2," before hurriedly walking away. In the background, their teacher, Acker, holds up the mirror in front of the kids and 3 them on. "Yes! Louder! Love it!" she calls out.
Acker teaches science at Gideons Elementary School, and she's on a 4 to boost her students' confidence and 5. The kids returned to school this month after a year of virtual learning, and said their 6 words every morning before class starts.
Acker 7 this with her 5-year-old daughter since she developed verbal language skills, and loved how they both felt 8. "The best part about doing the affirmations is the feeling after I say them," Acker says. "And the feeling I see my students feel or that they 9 after they do it. Their attitude is better, their self-confidence is 10 and we have a better day."
Mental health issues are 11 among children nationwide as they struggle with 12, uncertainty and pandemic. Many adults report that the pandemic has been hard on their mental health. For kids, some experts say, it has become a(n) 13.
And more so this year, kids "need all of the kindness and compassion we can 14," says Dr. Marcuetta, a psychologist.
Children develop their 15 based on how grown-ups speak to them, making teachers a key influence and positive affirmation a crucial first step, she adds.
