Everyone loves praise—including children. Praise is a way to show appreciation for your child’s efforts and achievements. But it’s more than just parental pride; when done right, praise can actively support children’s learning, motivation, and character development.
According to Raising Children Network, children need to build self-esteem in order to feel accepted, loved, and safe. One of the most effective ways to nurture that self-esteem is through praise and encouragement.
Why Praise Matters
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Improves behavior: The CDC notes that praise helps children distinguish right from wrong and encourages positive behavior at every age.
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Strengthens parent–child relationships: Praise makes children feel valued and brings them closer to their parents. When they see that you’re proud of them, their sense of responsibility and confidence grows.
The Right Way to Praise Children
1. Avoid Overpraise
Don’t praise children for everyday expectations—like simply going to school—because it may make them lazy or entitled.
2. Don’t Praise Too Often
Constant praise can lose meaning. Instead, save praise for meaningful efforts, such as trying something new.
3. Be Honest and Genuine
Children quickly sense insincerity. Focus on eye contact, tone of voice, and body language so they feel your pride is real.
4. Be Specific
General praise like “You’re amazing at soccer” is too broad. Try: “You defended the goal really well today—I think you’d make a great goalkeeper someday.” This helps children recognize their true strengths.
5. Praise the Effort, Not Just the Result
Highlight the hard work behind achievements: “I saw how much effort you put into studying last night. I’m proud of your dedication.”
6. Be Careful With Praising Intelligence
Labels like “You’re so smart” can create pressure and increase the risk of cheating to avoid failure. Instead, emphasize effort: “I’m proud of how hard you tried.”
7. Praise Even Through Failures
Children need to know that effort is valued, even when the outcome isn’t perfect. This builds resilience and teaches them that failure is part of learning.
👉 Bottom line: Praise is a powerful tool when it is genuine, specific, and focused on effort rather than results. Done the right way, it strengthens confidence, shapes character, and deepens the parent–child bond.
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