Praise nurtures your child’s self-esteem, confidence and sense of self.
I am a big fan of “positive parenting” It works well (for the most part) with our children and it definitely makes the day go by that little less stressful.
Positive parenting is when you tell your child what you like about their behaviour.
Praise nurtures your child’s self-esteem, confidence and sense of self. By using praise, you’re showing your child how to think and talk positively about himself. You’re helping your child learn how to recognise when he does well and to pat himself on the back.
Studies have shown countless benefits encouraging your little ones can do for them and stay with them for life.
Using the right encouraging words can:
1. Improve a childs’ self-esteem. People with high self-esteem are found to be happier and mentally healthier, whereas those with low self-esteem tend to be psychologically distressed and perhaps even depressed.
2. Increase motivation to achieve. Being encouraged feels good. When a child does something “good” and they get encouragement to do it, believe it or not they want to keep it up. The right encouragement can help them do that.
3. Encouragement focuses on effort. Encouraging children on how hard they have worked or how much they have improved build children’s pride in their own work again making them want to keep it up.
4. Encouragement sets up children for success. If a child is learning to play football and hears the coach say that another child is a "great footballer" the child may conclude that he'll never be a “great footballer” like the other boy. But if the coach tells the child they’re doing “great passes” (an example of encouragement), They second child does not have any reason to believe that he cannot also learn to do great passes too.
5. Encouragement teaches children to evaluate themselves on their own merits. When adults provide children with feedback about what they are doing, the children learn to evaluate themselves without comparing their efforts and successes to those of others. Children who are encouraged learn that what they think about themselves is more important than what others think.
Children do need reinforcement, but encouragement proves to be successful at building children’s self-esteem, motivation to work, and cooperation with others. The next time you think about saying, "You’re such a good boy!" change your statement to,
"You shared your book. Thank you!" You will help children learn more and develop pride in their own accomplishments.
Laura Doyle, Mum of 4. Kyle 9, Noa Belle 4, Briar 2 and Milla 12 months. Breastfeeder, co-sleeper, coffee drinker. Staying positive and inspired by the chaos of it all. Follow her on Instagram.
