How Mom Influencer Boosts Daughter’s Confidence with 1 ‘Powerful’ Daily Habit

Starting school can feel overwhelming for young kids, so one Florida mom found a way to help her daughter begin the day with confidence—through daily morning affirmations.

Tiania Haneline tells PEOPLE that she and her daughter, Scarlett, started the practice in 2020 when she realized how important it was for Scarlett to feel comfortable in her own skin. As a White mother raising a biracial daughter, Haneline wanted Scarlett to embrace her beauty and build self-confidence early in life.

Haneline says she had been doing affirmations on her own for years, but when Scarlett was 4 years old, she began speaking them aloud in front of her.

“Scarlett was doing my hair one day, and I thought, you know what? I’m going to do some affirmations,” Haneline recalls. “It was powerful. I had never looked at myself in the mirror and told myself, ‘I am who I am.’ I remember crying because it meant so much to me. I had never practiced that before.”

The affirmations go beyond appearances. Haneline explains that they give Scarlett the courage to “do hard things,” whether it’s facing her fears or standing up to someone being unkind.

“If Scarlett hears someone isn’t being kind, she’ll speak up,” Haneline says. “If we encourage that in our kids, they can help others, too. Daily affirmations don’t need to be complicated or forced. Every child is different and might need something unique.”

The mother-daughter pair has also gained attention online, gathering millions of views and building a community of more than 7 million followers. They often practice affirmations while getting ready for homeschooling lessons or before Scarlett heads to her co-op.

“I ask Scarlett if there are affirmations she wants to say that day, and she also reminds me of mine,” Haneline explains. “She’ll say, ‘Okay, now it’s your turn.’ It’s our special time together. Afterward, she gets ready for school with confidence.”

Some of their go-to affirmations include: “I am smart,” “I can do hard things,” and “I am brave.” Haneline says she wants to keep the practice simple and enjoyable.

“Sometimes Scarlett says she doesn’t feel like doing them, and that’s okay. I never force it,” she adds.

Haneline hopes teachers, students, and parents use affirmations in their own lives to encourage stronger self-esteem.

“For parents, kids need to see that you love yourself,” she says. “With so much negativity on social media today, confidence has to be built and practiced.”

She is even working on an affirmations hotline, where people can access uplifting messages whenever they need them.

“It doesn’t have to be complicated,” Haneline explains. “It can be as simple as, ‘I’m kind, I’m beautiful.’ Simplicity makes affirmations powerful. They’re anchors for kids and parents, helping with both confidence and bonding.”

The practice has already had a lasting impact on Scarlett, from her everyday school life to walking fashion runways in Milan and New York City.

“At the end of the day, affirmations are our anchor,” Haneline says. “When we’re having a bad day, that’s where we reset—by going back to our affirmations.”