The Science Behind Affirmations, and How Educators Can Make Them Meaningful!

Simran Ballani
3 days ago
3 min read

The Science Behind Affirmations, and How Educators Can Make Them Meaningful By Simi Ballani Chief Operating Officer and Pedagogical Expert, Council for Creative Education Finland

When I first read CBSE’s advisory recommending daily affirmations in school assemblies from the 2025–26 academic year, I felt a quiet joy—and a deep sense of alignment.

After over a decade of research in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), I’ve seen how simple, consistent practices like affirmations can profoundly shape a child’s emotional well-being. My work with CCE Finland has only deepened this understanding—strengthening our shared commitment to creating classrooms where children are not just learning, but feeling safe, connected, and emotionally ready from the moment they arrive.

Why This Resonates with Finnish Pedagogy

In Finland, education is not just about academic success—it’s about nurturing the whole child. Well-being is built into the school day, not treated as an extra. Daily rituals like morning circles, gentle check-ins, and class-wide reflections are common practices that foster a calm, emotionally grounded atmosphere. These moments help students feel seen, supported, and self-aware.

When CBSE speaks of affirmations that encourage respect, focus, mindfulness, and inner clarity, it beautifully mirrors what Finnish pedagogy has practiced for years. At CCE Finland, we’ve worked with educators in over 30 countries to adapt these principles locally—turning research into practical, daily school routines.

What resonates most is the shared belief: emotions are not distractions from learning—they are the foundation for it. Because in the end, it’s not just about what we teach—it’s about how we make children feel as they begin each day.

Student Teacher Time by CCE Finland: A Framework for Calm Starts

To support this, we developed Student Teacher Time—a short but impactful 5–10 minute morning routine with five core elements:

Each step builds an emotional bridge—resetting and grounding students before learning begins.

This isn’t just a feel-good activity. It’s backed by research.

Our study,

"Impact of Student Teacher Time on Student Engagement" (Ballani, 2023) Read the study

demonstrated that when these practices are implemented consistently, students show:

Increased emotional awareness
Better attention spans
Higher classroom participation
A stronger sense of belonging

From Practice to Purpose

Of course, knowing why affirmations matter is just the first step. Knowing how to integrate them meaningfully into everyday teaching is what transforms school culture.That’s exactly what our professional learning programs are designed to do.

👉 Leading with SEL 👉 IFC101 – Diploma in Finnish Pedagogy

Through these programs, educators learn how to implement SEL and Finnish pedagogical practices in a structured, sustainable way—not as separate or co-curricular activities, but as part of the core curriculum.

Teachers are guided to:

Embed affirmations and emotional check-ins into subject lessons and classroom routines
Align SEL goals with curriculum objectives across age groups
Apply Finnish principles like student voice, emotional safety, and daily reflection in practical classroom scenarios

The result? A learning environment where SEL isn’t added on—it’s built in.

Let’s Start the Conversation

Are you a school leader wondering how to begin? A teacher curious about which affirmations suit your students? Or simply someone seeking to understand how this can work in your setting?

You don’t need all the answers—just a question. And we’re here to listen.

Ask us: