PMA, Stoicism, and Psychology Vision Board

The Future Belongs to Children:

The future belongs to the young generation and those who will come after them. These individuals need to learn how stoicism, a positive mental attitude (PMA), and psychology can help them navigate their lives effectively. Understanding these concepts can foster mental growth not only for themselves but also for their future descendants.

Empowering Young Minds with Stoicism, PMA, and Psychology:

Imagine a garden where each child is a unique flower, ready to bloom in vibrant colors. To nurture this garden, we need more than sunshine and rain—we need to plant seeds of wisdom, resilience, and positivity to help our children grow strong, no matter the weather.

Many say, “We need to make the world safer for kids.” While safety is necessary, the more fabulous gift is teaching children how to confidently cultivate their own mental and emotional happiness and navigate life’s twists and turns from embryo moments. Children can learn about virtues like courage, kindness, temperance, wisdom, justice, and resilience from the moment they take their first steps or hear about them from their mothers’ stomachs while still developing as embryos. These aren’t just big words—they’re superpowers that help them when things don’t go as planned.

Grown-ups, you can help children embrace these virtues and set their course for the future, so I’ve crafted a fun and engaging activity:

A Vision Board infused with Stoicism, Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), and Psychology

This journey is more than cutting out pictures and gluing them onto a board. It’s about helping kids discover who they are, what they value, and how they can shape their destinies with a positive mindset. Let’s dive into this exciting adventure!

Step 1: Unveiling the Magic of Vision Boards

Method: Making Dreams Visible

Explain to the children that a vision board is like a treasure map leading to their dreams. It’s a colorful collage where they can display everything they hope to be, do, or have. By creating this “life poster,” they make their dreams visible and start believing in them.

Activity: Exploring Possibilities

Show them examples of vision boards to spark ideas. Discuss how pictures and words can represent personal aspirations. Ask them questions like:

“What do you love to do?”
“Who inspires you?”
“What adventures do you want to have?”

Example: Becoming Their Hero

If a child loves superheroes, encourage them to imagine themselves as one. They could draw themselves flying or helping others, symbolizing their strengths and goals.

Step 1.1: Gathering the Creative Arsenal

Supplies Needed:

Poster board or large paper (their canvas)
Magazines, newspapers, or printed images (full of inspiration)
Scissors and glue (tools of creation)
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils (for personal flair)
Stickers, glitter, or any decorative items (to make it shine)

Step 1.2: Bringing the Vision to Life

Steps to Ignite Creativity:

Arrange: Let them spread their chosen images and words on the board without gluing them. This is their chance to play with ideas and see how everything fits together.

Organize: Guide them to group items into themes like personal growth, friendships, learning, and fun activities.

Affix: Once they’re happy with the layout, it’s time to glue everything down. This makes their dreams feel more tangible.

Decorate: Encourage them to add drawings, write inspiring words, or sprinkle glitter. This is their masterpiece!

Example: Crafting a Dreamscape

If a child dreams of exploring the ocean, their vision board might include pictures of sea creatures, boats, or underwater scenes. They could also draw themselves as marine biologists or adventurous divers, making their vision board a window into their future adventures.

Step 2: Planting the Seeds of Virtue (Stoicism)

Method: Discovering Inner Strengths

Introduce the core virtues from Stoicism—courage, temperance, justice, wisdom, kindness, and resilience—in a way that’s easy to understand. Explain that these virtues are like special powers they can develop to help them in everyday life.

Activity: Choosing Personal Superpowers

Ask each child to consider which virtues they admire or want to embody. Try to encourage them to find images or symbols representing these virtues to add to their vision board.

Example: Embracing Courage and Kindness

Suppose a child named Lily wants to be brave like a lion and kind like a butterfly. She might add a picture of a lion to represent courage and a butterfly to symbolize kindness. These images serve as reminders of the qualities she wants to grow.

Step 3: Setting Sail with a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)

Method: Believing in Themselves

Explain that a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) is about believing that good things can happen and that they have the power to make a difference. It’s like having an inner sunshine that brightens even the cloudiest days.

Activity: Defining Exciting Goals

Guide the children to think about something they’d love to achieve. It could be learning to play an instrument, making a new friend, or helping someone in need. Please encourage them to express this goal with positive words, images, or symbols on their vision board.

Example: Reaching for the Stars

If a child dreams of becoming an astronaut, they might include pictures of rockets, stars, and planets. Writing “I can reach the stars!” reinforces their belief in their ability to achieve great things.

Step 4: Imagining Success with Mindful Visualization (Psychology)

Method: Creating Mind Movies

Teach them about visualization, a technique in which they imagine themselves achieving their goals. It’s like making a movie in their minds where they are the hero, and everything goes just the way they hope.

Activity: A Journey in Their Imagination

Lead a short visualization exercise. Ask them to close their eyes and picture themselves achieving one of their goals. Please encourage them to think about how it feels, what they see, and even what they hear or smell.

Example: The Joy of Accomplishment

If a child wants to perform in a school play, they might imagine standing on stage, hearing the applause, and feeling proud and happy. Afterward, they can draw this scene or find images that depict this success to add to their vision board.

Step 5: Building Resilience Through Stoic Wisdom

Method: Turning Setbacks into Comebacks

Explain that life is full of surprises, and sometimes things don’t go as planned. But that’s okay! What matters is how we respond. Teach them that every challenge is an opportunity to grow stronger.

Activity: Symbols of Strength

Ask them to think of a time when something was hard, but they kept going. Encourage them to add a symbol of resilience to their vision board—a phoenix rising from ashes, a sprouting seed, or a mountain climber reaching the peak.

Example: The Power of Yet

If a child struggles with a subject at school, they can add the word “Yet” to their vision board, “I can’t do this… yet.” This small word carries immense power, reminding them that with effort and time, they can overcome obstacles.

Step 6: Taking Small Steps Toward Big Dreams

Method: The Magic of Daily Habits

Teach them that significant achievements are made up of many small actions. It’s like building a tower one block at a time. Each little habit brings them closer to their dreams.

Activity: Action Plan Additions

Please encourage them to think of simple, daily actions that support their goals. They can write these down or draw them and add them to their vision board.

Example: Daily Dedication

If a child wants to learn to play the guitar, their small step might be “Practice for 15 minutes daily.” Adding a picture of a guitar with musical notes can serve as a cheerful reminder to keep strumming.

Step 7: Cultivating Gratitude for a Positive Mindset

Method: Finding Joy in the Present

Teach them that appreciating what they have makes them happier and more positive. Gratitude is like glasses that help them see all the good things around them.

Activity: Creating a Gratitude Corner

Invite them to dedicate a section of their vision board to things they’re thankful for. It could be family, friends, pets, nature, or anything that brings them joy.

Example: A Heart Full of Thanks

If a child loves spending time with their grandparents, they might include a photo or drawing of them together. This acknowledges their appreciation and warms their heart every time they see it.

Step 8: Reflecting and Celebrating Progress

Method: The Joy of Sharing and Growing

Explain that it’s essential for them to review their vision board regularly, see how far they’ve come, and make changes as they grow.

Activity: Vision Board Show and Tell

Set aside time for them to share their vision boards with others. Please encourage them to discuss their goals, the virtues they’re developing, and their accomplishments.

Example: A Circle of Support

Each child can present their vision board in a group setting, and others can offer encouragement. This builds a supportive community where everyone feels valued and inspired.

Step 8.1: Keeping the Vision Alive

Method: Regular Check-Ins

Schedule times—maybe once a month—for them to revisit their vision boards. This keeps their goals fresh and allows them to adjust as they grow and change.

Activity: Updating and Enhancing

Please encourage them to set new goals, reflect on their achievements, and perhaps set new challenges for themselves.

Example: The Journey Continues

If a child has achieved a goal, such as learning to swim or learning more words, they can celebrate by adding a gold star or setting a new goal, such as joining a swim team. This shows them that growth is an ongoing adventure.

Final Thoughts: Nurturing a Bright Future

Creating a vision board with Stoicism, Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), and psychology allows children to embark on self-discovery and empowerment. This engaging activity teaches them to visualize their dreams, cultivate virtues, and embrace a positive mindset.

By using vivid examples, encouraging self-reflection, and guiding them in small, practical steps, you’re making the activity fun and giving them a foundation for lifelong strength and positivity. They learn that setbacks are just stepping stones, daily habits build the path to their aspirations, and gratitude fills their journey with joy.

Through this process, kids discover that vision boards aren’t just about having big dreams; they’re about understanding who they are, appreciating what they have, and building the courage to grow, even when the going gets tough.

By integrating Stoic virtues, Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), and psychological techniques into creating a vision board, children develop a holistic tool that fosters personal growth, resilience, and a proactive approach to life’s challenges.

So, let’s encourage our young explorers to dream big, embrace their inner strengths, and know they can shape their happy thoughts and emotions. After all, the future belongs to them; with these tools in hand, it’s bound to be bright.

“Let’s help children plant the seeds of their dreams with the wisdom of stoicism, water them with the positivity of a strong positive mental attitude (PMA), and watch as they bloom into the vibrant future we all hope for, nurtured by the principles of psychology.” – Jay Pacheco.

Here are some other resources and guides to help you create vision boards with concepts from psychology, Stoicism, and PMA:

Other Resources:

Psychology-Based Vision Boards for Kids
- Waco Moms: How to Make a Vision Board for Kids – This guide offers step-by-step instructions for helping children visualize their aspirations.
- Big Life Journal – Provides printables and journals focused on growth mindset, resilience, and goal-setting for kids.
Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) and Growth Mindset
- Mindset Kit for Kids – Helps children develop a growth mindset and positive attitude.
- MindUp for Kids – A science-based curriculum for teaching children about mindfulness, gratitude, and positive outlooks.
Stoic Values for Children
- Stoicism for Kids – The Daily Stoic – Introduces stoic principles like resilience, gratitude, and wisdom in simple terms.
- Practical Stoic Wisdom for Kids – A brief guide on applying stoic principles in child-friendly ways.
Vision Board Printables and Templates for Kids
- Teachers Pay Teachers: Vision Board Printables – Various vision board templates and printables for kids’ goal-setting activities.
- PBS Kids – Vision Board Activity – A vision board guide with printable templates that is great for both family and individual activities.
Selfmadeladies, Mia Fox just sent me a link to her latest vision board for kids. Mia Fox is all about manifesting.