5 Words Kids Should Use to Describe Themselves

When my wife and I were expecting our first child, we talked over names. My goal was to give my kids names that wouldn’t bring ridicule from other kids. My wife, however, was thinking on a deeper level. She wanted names with meaning. Over a decade later, I can honestly say that my kids live up to the meanings of their names. We’ve also observed several of our friends’ kids who have personality traits similar to the meanings of their names.

The labels we’re given have a way of impacting what we believe about ourselves and, ultimately, our behavior.

OK, maybe I’m reading into it too much or just looking for what I want to see. That’s fair. But words are powerful, especially descriptive ones. The labels we’re given have a way of impacting what we believe about ourselves and, ultimately, our behavior. So we need to be careful with the words we choose to describe ourselves and make certain they represent the truth of who we are. And when we choose words to describe a child, we also need to be careful they’re the right ones. Here are 5 words kids should use to describe themselves.

1. Valuable

Our society places a higher value on certain people because of their abilities, personality, looks, or the money they’re able to make. But that’s not what gives a person value. What gives a person value is the One who made them. Period. When kids know this, they aren’t as impacted by the opinions of others.

2. Wonderfully Made

Your kids don’t need to be anyone but themselves. Psalm 139 tells us we’re “wonderfully made.” That means God made each of us with a great amount of thought, inspiration, intricacy, imagination, and marvelous design. There are details in our makeup that are distinct only to us. Make sure your kids know this so they can delight in their uniqueness.

3. Purposeful

I’ve heard people describe children who were unplanned as “accidents.” While it’s typically said with humor, the reality is that no child is an accident. Certain children may have been a surprise to their parents, but not to the God who created them. Each of us was made with great purpose. There’s a reason for our existence and we need to pursue God to learn, grow, and use our talents for that purpose.

4. Worthy

One of the most heartbreaking sentences to hear a kid say is, “I’m nothing special.” Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That means God knows each of us and even with all our faults and weaknesses, He thinks we are worth dying for. Each of us needs to be aware of how important we are to the One who made us. If God, who knows everything we have thought about and done, thinks we are worthy, then we are worthy.

5. Loved

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) Since Jesus was willing to die for each of us, it means that not only did he loves us, but he loves us at a level that can’t go higher. This needs to be the core of our kids’ identity. That love is infinite and constant. It gives kids the acceptance and security they crave. Without it, they will always live life with a hole to fill.

Sound off: Are there other words to describe a child that we should use?