While we’d like to believe that our children live carefree lives devoid of concerns and worries, many children become anxious and self-critical at an early age. However, parents can help their children to develop positive thinking. Children can learn to replace worries with desire and faith, and to think and speak more positively.

Many children are born optimists. They have a wonderful feeling of self-assurance and absolute faith that their wishes and desires will come true. However, other children seem to be born worriers. They may worry about speaking in front of their class, that they are stupid, that no one likes them, etc.

We attract what we pay attention to, but oftentimes children (and adults) don’t realise that they are focusing on what they don’t want, rather than what they do want. For instance, if you and your child have been sick, you’re probably both clear that this is not what you want. However, if you’re thinking and worrying about being sick, it’s an entirely different perspective than focusing on being well.

When your child expresses a worry, help him/her to identify and then start focusing on what he/she truly wants to happen instead. For instance, if your daughter says, “I don’t want to go to the party because no one will play with me,” help her to identify what she wants. Tell stories in which your child faces and overcomes a fear or attains her goal. Eve-ntually she will be able to visualise these positive scenarios on her own. — Beliefnet.com