Transform your grandchildren's lives instantly: 6 must-use phrases recommended by a child psychologist
By
Veronica E.
- Replies 0
The words you choose when speaking to your grandchildren hold immense power, shaping their self-perception and view of the world.
As a grandparent, your thoughtful communication can have a lasting impact on their confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being. Whether you're offering guidance, encouragement, or simply sharing a moment, the right words can help nurture their growth in meaningful ways.
A child psychologist, Dr. Crystal Saidi, Psy.D., highlights that certain key phrases—though simple—can leave a profound and lasting impact on a child’s emotional and mental development.
These phrases offer a way to connect deeply, helping children feel supported, valued, and understood, regardless of your role in their lives.

Here’s how these expressions can help build trust, self-esteem, and a stronger bond.
These four words can mean the world to a child. It’s not just about acknowledging success but also about recognizing their effort, perseverance, and willingness to try.
By expressing pride in their actions, you inspire them to keep growing and striving.
Hearing this phrase can instill confidence and provide the push a child needs to overcome challenges.
Knowing that someone trusts in their abilities helps them face self-doubt with courage and determination.

Letting a child know they can share their thoughts and feelings with you creates a safe and open space for communication.
It reassures them that their emotions and experiences are valued and respected.
Mistakes are an essential part of learning.
When you normalize errors and frame them as opportunities to grow, you help children view challenges with a positive mindset rather than fear or shame.

Asking about a child’s feelings shows that you care about their perspective and value their emotional experiences.
It also encourages them to explore and express their emotions, building emotional intelligence over time.
Whether it’s a tough homework problem or learning a new skill, offering to work on something together shows collaboration and support.
This phrase reminds them that challenges can be more manageable—and even fun—when approached as a team.
In today’s fast-paced and often overwhelming world, these phrases are more than just words; they’re essential tools for building trust, fostering resilience, and promoting emotional health.
By using these expressions with your grandchildren, you can help them navigate life with confidence, positivity, and a strong sense of self-worth.
Have you used any of these phrases with the children in your life, or do you remember hearing them from a loved one when you were younger? What impact did they have on you or the child? Are there other go-to phrases you’ve found effective in nurturing confidence, resilience, and connection? Let’s share and inspire each other!
As a grandparent, your thoughtful communication can have a lasting impact on their confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being. Whether you're offering guidance, encouragement, or simply sharing a moment, the right words can help nurture their growth in meaningful ways.
A child psychologist, Dr. Crystal Saidi, Psy.D., highlights that certain key phrases—though simple—can leave a profound and lasting impact on a child’s emotional and mental development.
These phrases offer a way to connect deeply, helping children feel supported, valued, and understood, regardless of your role in their lives.

Simple words can create lasting memories and nurture a child's emotional growth. Image Source: Pexels / Mikhail Nilov.
Here’s how these expressions can help build trust, self-esteem, and a stronger bond.
1. "I’m proud of you."
These four words can mean the world to a child. It’s not just about acknowledging success but also about recognizing their effort, perseverance, and willingness to try.
By expressing pride in their actions, you inspire them to keep growing and striving.
2. "I believe in you."
Hearing this phrase can instill confidence and provide the push a child needs to overcome challenges.
Knowing that someone trusts in their abilities helps them face self-doubt with courage and determination.

"I believe in you"—four powerful words that inspire confidence and help children overcome self-doubt. Image Source: Pexels / RDNE Stock project.
3. "You can talk to me about anything."
Letting a child know they can share their thoughts and feelings with you creates a safe and open space for communication.
It reassures them that their emotions and experiences are valued and respected.
4. "It’s okay to make mistakes."
Mistakes are an essential part of learning.
When you normalize errors and frame them as opportunities to grow, you help children view challenges with a positive mindset rather than fear or shame.

Mistakes are stepping stones to growth—show kids it’s okay to stumble as they learn and thrive. Image Source: Pexels / Phil Nguyen.
5. "How do you feel about that?"
Asking about a child’s feelings shows that you care about their perspective and value their emotional experiences.
It also encourages them to explore and express their emotions, building emotional intelligence over time.
6. "Let’s try together."
Whether it’s a tough homework problem or learning a new skill, offering to work on something together shows collaboration and support.
This phrase reminds them that challenges can be more manageable—and even fun—when approached as a team.
In today’s fast-paced and often overwhelming world, these phrases are more than just words; they’re essential tools for building trust, fostering resilience, and promoting emotional health.
By using these expressions with your grandchildren, you can help them navigate life with confidence, positivity, and a strong sense of self-worth.
Key Takeaways
- A child psychologist has highlighted six impactful phrases that can positively influence a child’s development.
- These phrases are recommended for parents and grandparents to enhance their communication with children.
- The goal of these phrases is to promote emotional understanding and provide better support for children.
- The child psychologist emphasizes the need for immediate adoption of these phrases to improve interactions with children.
Have you used any of these phrases with the children in your life, or do you remember hearing them from a loved one when you were younger? What impact did they have on you or the child? Are there other go-to phrases you’ve found effective in nurturing confidence, resilience, and connection? Let’s share and inspire each other!