Kids describing words

A Giant List of Adjectives to Describe Kids

ByLauren @ Simply-Well-BalancedJune 22, 2021July 30, 2021

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Words are powerful. This is especially true when you consider the words that you choose to describe your child – or children you work with. Today we are sharing a huge list of adjectives about kids to increase self-confidence and esteem in children.

Adjectives About Kids: Using the Power of Words to Increase Confidence

What's Inside:

As a teacher and parent, I know first hand how true that quote is.

I have seen behaviors, attitudes and self-esteem completely transformed in my classroom just by carefully choosing words to describe kids in a positive light. 

You see, if a child repeatedly hears someone describe them using positive words, eventually they start to believe what they are hearing.

Because I have seen how powerful words can be, I have become more intentional with the words I use to describe the behavior, actions and personalities of my own children – and I encourage you to do the same.

Adjectives are describing words and you can pretty much guarantee that the words kids grow up hearing are the same words they will end up using to describe themselves as adults. 

How to Use Adjectives to Describe Kids

Adjectives about kids can be used in a variety of ways:

• As a parent trying to improve the self-esteem of your own child.
• As a teacher looking for descriptions to include in report cards or progress reports.
• As a coach or counselor trying to find words to describe the positive personality traits you see in the kids you’re working with. 

No matter why you are looking for adjectives to describe children, it’s helpful to understand why being as specific as possible is very important.

Oftentimes we get in the habit of using the same generic phrases like “cute” or “smart” on repeat. 

When children hear these same terms repeated over and over they actually become meaningless.

Here are some tips on using adjectives to describe kids:

• Use phrases that are as unique and individualized as possible.

• Avoid focusing on appearance for compliments. You don’t want a child’s self-worth to be connected to the way they look.

• Consider characteristics that set them apart from others.

• Try to rephrase challenging aspects of their personality in a positive way that highlights how they can use them as strengths (ie instead of stubborn, describe them as determined).

• Use these words and phrases in everyday conversation so they frequently hear themselves being described using positive words.

• Write the words on post-it notes and leave them for your child to find in their room, on the bathroom mirror or inside their favorite book.

• Utilize them as part of a daily affirmation routine.

• Be genuine – kids can tell when you’re not being authentic. Be sure that the words you use accurately describe your child and how you feel about them – even if it’s just some of the time.

• Have your child (or students) choose words from this list of adjectives for describing kids to make a poster or collage about themselves.

When used consistently these words will become a natural part of your daily routine and your child will become accustomed to hearing themselves in a positive light every day.

Now let’s get on to the list!

150 Positive Adjectives About Kids

Adjectives to Describe a Child’s Strengths

• Determined
• Motivated
• Positive
• Trustworthy
• Artistic
• Brave 
• Creative
• Diligent
• Friendly
• Forgiving
• Imaginative
• Inventive
• Motivated
• Observant
• Persistent
• Reliable
• Resourceful
• Understanding
• Unique
• Hard-working
• Involved
• Self-starting
• Flexible
• Organized
• Structured
• Efficient
• Adaptable
• Articulate
• Clever
• Persistent
• Leader
• Self-reliant
• Detail oriented
• Tough
• Open-minded
• Industrious
• Tenacious
• Communicative
• Talented
• Skilled
• Willing to try
• Knowledgeable
• Confident
• Ambitious
• Authentic
• Original
• Enterprising
• Fierce
• Gifted
• Believable
• Meticulous

Adjectives to Describe a Kid’s Personality

• Compassionate
• Loyal
• Adventurous
• Charming
• Faithful
• Cautious
• Polite
• Magnetic
• Dynamic
• Nurturing
• Cheerful
• Practical
• Selective
• Enchanting
• Selective
• Logical
• Endearing
• Understanding
• Entertaining
• Sensitive
• Aware
• Tolerant
• Spontaneous
• Charismatic
• Attentive
• Opinionated
• Courageous
• Approachable
• Affectionate
• Easy-going
• Accepting
• Effervescent
• Funny
• Honest
• Reflective
• Hopeful
• Methodical
• Inquisitive
• Talkative
• Devoted
• Steadfast
• Patient
• Contemplative
• Insightful
• Joyful
• Loving
• Optimistic
• Passionate
• Mindful
• Aware
• Calm
• Resilient
• Self-Confident
• Witty
• Independent
• Hilarious
• Philosophical
• Logical
• Realistic
• Unconventional
• Delightful
• Modest

Words to Describe A Child’s Behavior

• Consistent
• Responsible
• Kind
• Daring
• Considerate 
• Energetic
• Fearless
• Generous
• Gentle
• Courteous
• Helpful
• Playful
• Fiery
• Social
• Spirited
• Zestful
• Thoughtful
• Confident
• Cooperative
• Spunky
• Reserved
• Exuberant
• Expressive
• Supportive
• Animated
• Focused
• Expressive
• Eager
• Intense
• Assertive
• Respectful
• Bold
• Gutsy

Conclusion

Overtime, your child will begin to integrate the words they hear you use to describe them into their own sense of self worth. Those words and phrases will become a part of their identity and form a foundation of self-confidence and strength.

Lauren @ Simply-Well-Balanced

Hi, I'm Lauren Tingley; a working, teacher-mom of two who tried to "do it all" and ended up losing myself in the process. Determined to find joy in modern motherhood I discovered simplifying was the answer. Now I share tips for fun family activities, minimalist homemaking and simple parenting advice on Simply Well Balanced for families looking to create more balance in their homes. My ideas and advice has been shared by Parents Magazine, Good Housekeeping and Women's First.Read more about me! Or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram

100+ Positive Adjectives to Describe a Child - With Free Printable Poster!

Today I’m sharing a list of 100+ positive adjectives to describe a child with a free printable poster of positive adjectives. I hope you enjoy and find it helpful!

You won’t find phrases like “well behaved” or adjectives like cute, handsome, or intelligent in this list. They’re all unique, positive ways to describe a child’s personality. The free printable poster has a cheerful rainbow background and is perfect for classrooms or home use.

Have you ever noticed that the qualities we claim to value in adults are the same things we try to discourage in children?

We praise children for being quiet, coloring inside the lines, and standing still. Then we say we value innovation, determination, and authenticity.

We also tend to praise children’s appearance constantly but don’t really mention their personalities and actions in positive ways. This list of positive adjectives to call a child will help you change that!

This post may include affiliate links, which means I may make a commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. 

Table of Contents

How to describe a child

Hearing the words people use to describe my child has made me very aware of the adjectives I use to describe her.  Their descriptions have made me really stop and think about the messages our word choices unintentionally send our children.

Frequently we use kind of milk-toast adjectives like “great,” focus on physical characteristics (“cute” or “pretty”), or praise a child for being so “smart.”

There are a couple problems with always praising a child’s appearance or constantly calling them “good” or “smart.”

For one, girls are already bombarded with messages from society that their appearance matters, maybe more than anything else about them.

Although no one means harm when they tell their daughter how cute she is or that she has a nice outfit, it helps reinforce the idea that how they look is more important then who they are. This can cause a lot of problems and confidence issues down the line!

Virtually everyone who talks to us when we’re out tells us how pretty, beautiful, or cute our LG is. They tell us how my husband is going to jealously guard her from would-be boyfriends. Muñeca (doll) and princesa are favorite adjectives from our Miami family.

A few people do comment on how observant she is, but typically only after they’ve called her cute half a dozen times.

Related read: Printable gratitude journal for kids

I know it’s super hard not to call your little one cute all the time. I’ve tried since day 1 to say other things to LG, but “cute” still slips out frequently because she is cute! But I consciously try to mention her other attributes, like her strength and determination, whenever possible.

Constantly praising a child’s intelligence can also backfire. Although it’s obviously fine to mention their smarts in moderation, a child may become afraid of doing anything that might make them look “stupid” if they’ve tied their identity to being “smart.”

This kind of thinking can lead “talented” students to take less challenging classes and tasks because they’ve tied their identity to being a “good student” and are afraid of making less than straight A’s (If you’re a new reader – I have a Masters in Teaching and this is a topic we studied in developmental psychology and educational theory classes. It’s fascinating stuff!)

It’s also really important to read the research on how praise can backfire in the long run. Read Conditional Parenting – it’s a game changer.

Sale

Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and...

• Raising Kids
• Kohn, Alfie (Author)
• English (Publication Language)

By using more diverse adjectives to describe your child and mentioning their personality traits more than their appearance, you can help your child develop a more healthy and wholistic self-image and greater confidence!

How to use this list of positive adjectives

These adjectives are great for introducing new words to your child. Some of them are more advanced than others, which makes them the perfect way to introduce new words.

They’re also useful for expanding your own repertoire of complements and descriptions.

Additionally, you can use these adjectives if your child has a school assignment to come up with a list of words to describe themselves.

Challenge your children to describe themselves and others in new, different ways each day of the week! See if you can all go an entire week without simply describing someone as nice, pretty, or great.

Make sure to grab the free printable poster (at the bottom of the post) with all 100+ positive adjectives so you can post it in your home or classroom for reference! 

Pin this list of positive adjectives now so you don’t lose track of the post!

100+ positive adjectives to describe a child

• Adaptable
• Adventurous
• Affectionate
• Alert
• Ambitious
• Amiable
• Astute
• Attentive
• Authentic
• Aware
• Awesome
• Bold
• Brave
• Calm
• Capable
• Caring
• Compassionate
• Confident
• Considerate
• Consistant
• Courageous
• Courteous
• Curious
• Decisive
• Dependable
• Determined
• Dexterous
• Diligent
• Diplomatic
• Dynamic
• Earnest
• Encouraging
• Energetic
• Engaging
• Enthusiastic
• Fair
• Fearless
• Flexible
• Focused
• Forgiving
• Forthright
• Free-spirited
• Friendly
• Fun
• Fun-loving
• Generous
• Gentle
• Genuine
• Giving
• Graceful
• Gracious
• Happy
• Hardworking
• Honest
• Hopeful
• Humble
• Humorous
• Idealistic
• Imaginative
• Innovative
• Insightful
• Intuitive
• Inventive
• Joyful
• Just
• Kind
• Lively
• Loving
• Loyal
• Merry
• Motivated
• Motivational
• Nurturing
• Observant
• Open
• Open-hearted
• Open-minded
• Optimistic
• Organized
• Outgoing
• Patient
• Persistent
• Playful
• Positive
• Precise
• Punctual
• Purposeful
• Quick-witted
• Radiant
• Realistic
• Reflective
• Reliable
• Resourceful
• Sincere
• Sociable
• Social
• Strong
• Sympathetic
• Trusting
• Trustworthy
• Upbeat
• Vivacious
• Warm
• Welcoming
• Wise
• Zany

Free printable poster of positive adjectives

Here’s a preview of the printable poster of positive adjectives! (The image is just a low-res preview, not the printable PDF)

If you’d like to reference this list of positive adjectives to describe a child, make sure to grab the free printable!

Download your printable poster of 100 positive adjectives here

This poster of positive adjectives matches a set of the growth mindset poster printables I shared recently. Make sure to stop by and grab your free printable growth mindset posters, too.

More positive parenting resources

You can’t pour from an empty cup. These free self-care ideas for moms can help you be the positive parent you want to be! There are also some free printable affirmation cards to help you out.

Do you want to encourage your toddler’s desire to practice gross motor skills? These indoor gross motor toys for toddlers are the best!

Do you have any additional positive adjectives you’d like to see added to the list?

From the mouth of a baby. TV show of the 90s

“ Through the Mouth of a Baby ” was one of the most popular shows on RTR in the 90s. In it, small children (4-9 years old) explained to adults (usually married couples) the meanings of different words, and adults had to guess what was being said (i.e. the word) as quickly as possible.

Intellectual and entertaining family game, produced by Video International and Studio 2B . The permanent host of the program for eight seasons was Alexander Gurevich. " through the mouth of a baby " aired on TV channel RTR from September 1992 to December 1996. From January 1997 to April 1999, the program continued to air on channel NTV . In April 1999, the program returned to the air RTR and went there until June 2000. A total of 44 releases of the program were made. Currently, the 1998–2000 episodes air daily on the Q&A channel.

Two pairs of adults (usually spouses) compete for victory in each edition of the program. Their task is to guess what the children describe. Children's performances are recorded in advance and shown during the game in the studio on the screen. In each competition, participants can score a certain number of points. The couple with the most points at the end of the program wins.

A distinctive feature of the program is the participation of preschool children, who describe familiar concepts with their characteristic spontaneity and a special view of the world.

The first contest is called " Reasoners ". The screen shows a 30-second clip in which one or two children try to explain the meaning of a word. Viewers see the answer at the bottom of the screen. At the end of the story, the team gives their answer options. If the word is guessed on the first attempt, the couple gets 15 points, on the second - 10, on the third - 5. If the word is not recognized, the next riddle is guessed by the other team.

The second contest called " Riddlers " is started by the team that currently has the least points. Team members must first agree on which of them guesses and who tells. Within 45 seconds, the presenter reads out short descriptive hints, according to which the participant must guess the word. Three attempts are given for each word, then the leader moves on to the next concept. Each guessed word earns the team 10 points.

In the third competition " Explainers » teams watch a 30-second video in which different children describe the same concept. The teams then get two attempts in turn. Guessing the first time, they gain 50 points, the second - 25. Over time, the number of points in the competition changed, and in the 1999-2000 season, Explainers was removed from the program due to reduced airtime.

The last competition is “ Overtakers ”, in which teams answer according to the principle “who is faster”. On the screen there is a plot in which one child explains the word. Even to viewers, it remains unknown. Participants can click on the button, interrupt the story and voice their version of the answer. If it is correct, the team gets 20 points. If the answer is wrong, the other team can watch the story and give their answer.

" Through the Mouth of Baby " also had a short feature called " Show ", in which the young participants of the program performed famous songs of adult artists in their original manner.

The funniest explanations:

Happiness
Children have it half and half. Because mom either scolds or buys ice cream. (Zulfiya Khakimova, 8 years old)

Laundry detergent
Usually this is poured into the washing machine. But what will happen if you pour it into the soup, I don’t know. Because I haven't tried it yet. (Dasha Ushakova, 8 years old)

Belly
This is a very important place in a person. There are pasta, compote, borscht. In the midst of all this, somewhere else the heart is placed. (Galya Shaulova, 5 years old)

Insomnia
The bride may have it. She lies at night and thinks: “What dress will I have tomorrow? Beautiful or not? And most importantly - what kind of husband will I have tomorrow? (Masha Sinelnikova, 7 years old)

Divination
At first I was going to marry Yasha, but then I decided to tell Lyova, it turned out that it was better to marry Anton. (Masha Solntseva, 6 years old)

Food
Grandmother gets the tastiest food, mom does it well too. But dad cuts bread well! (Vera Kusteeva, 7 years old)

Wife
This is a girl who cooks dinner for a man, does laundry and takes care of his child. (Andrey Kanifatov, 4 years old and Andrey Pichugin, 6 years old)

Husband
It's difficult with this person. Because there is a lot of trouble with him ... The expenses are high ... This person can let you down: for example, at first he was handsome and good, and after you married him, he became scolding and fat. (Kirill Abakumov, 7 years old)

In love
For example, a husband walks after his wife, keeps his eyes on her all day long. Then she begins to guess that he, apparently, is in love with her. (Marina Kazakova, 8 years old)

Fiancé
That's what an uncle is called before he gets married. And after he marries, he is already called by other different words. (Anya Glebova, 9 years old)

Cruise
After it, men and women often have to get married. (Lena Radkovskaya, 7 years old)

Fashion model
The profession is hard, because you have to diet all the time and quickly take off your clothes. (Ira Mazunova, 9 years old and Masha Kirillova, 9 years old)

TV series
Women like it the most, because all sorts of exciting events take place there. Men, for example, are killed several at a time.
(Arina Tabanakova, 7 years old and Olya Zanina, 8 years old)