Slumberkins Affirmation Card Deck

Slumberkins is an emotional learning brand on a mission to empower children to be caring, confident, and resilient. Founded by a special education teacher and a family therapist, Slumberkins was created to bring effective early emotional learning tools into as many homes and schools as possible.

Regularly repeating affirming messages can have a lasting impact on children's feelings about themselves and the world around them. Whether it's encouraging positive self-worth, working through stressful moments, or helping your child calm down when their emotions get the best of them, all of these skills can be built by practicing each of the Slumberkins creatures' affirmations.

Our Approach

Connect-to-Grow: We employ a “Connect-to-Grow” approach that can be summed up as “connect, reflect, practice, grow.” While learning will always start with connection, our approach is intended to be dynamic, rather than a step-by-step process.

Connect: Our creatures are relatable for a reason. They help parents facilitate meaningful moments of connection that allow children to feel seen, valued, and loved at the deepest level. Allowing all feelings to be expressed in these moments of connection helps solidify the bonds that are essential for an emotionally healthy childhood.

Reflect: Here we apply two definitions of “reflect,” the first meaning to mirror. Young children develop a sense of self when their parents and primary caregivers mirror and reflect back the child’s feelings, responses, and actions.

“You look like you are about to cry. Your eyes are watering, you’re holding your breath, and you’re looking down at your shoes.”

As we help our children build a sense of self and understand what it means to be human, mirroring is a way we can show our children that we accept them and that we promote the full and healthy expression of emotions.

This brings us to the other meaning of reflect. When children feel seen, heard, and understood by their parents, they can feel safe to engage in self-reflection. Parents can model self-talk, approach difficult feelings with curiosity rather than judgment, and use deep breathing or body regulation techniques to help their children internalize behavior that encourages self-reflection.

Practice: To reinforce the connection we have with our children, we must actively participate in their emotional growth journey, repeating these processes of “connect” and “reflect.” When children see a parent identify their emotions, acknowledge their mistakes, and practice self-awareness, they are actively gaining tools and coping mechanisms for emotional wellness.

Slumberkins affirmations proactively support building emotional health and resiliency for more meaningful moments throughout the day.

“I am kind. I am strong. I am brave and unique. The world is better because I am here. I like me.” —Bigfoot’s Affirmation

Grow: Growth isn’t a “final step” or linear progression. Emotional growth can be messy and uncomfortable and can start at any age. When we engage in our children’s emotional development early, we can empower them to be more caring, confident, and resilient, where they see every experience—pleasant or difficult—as an opportunity for growth.

Our Product

We want you to feel confident supporting your child’s early emotional development. We invite you to meet our creatures and apply our Connect-to-Grow approach through storytelling, affirmation practice and play.