The Power of Praise in Raising Confident Kids
For parents of children, its essential to feel confident that they are doing everything they can to help their kids grow and develop in healthy, secure and successful ways. Of course, there are many paths that lead to success, but one of the most important elements that building strong kids involves is providing them with affirmation and praise.
What Is Praise and How Does it Help?
Praise is a form of verbal acknowledgement that is used to show recognition and admiration. For kids, hearing praise from a trusted adult can have a huge impact on their self-esteem, self-concept and overall confidence. Research suggests that praise has the power to improve overall motivation and work performance, reduce anxiety and even increase self-expectation and goal-oriented behavior.
The Power of Praise
When parents offer praise to their children, they acknowledge the positive things they are doing and help to reinforce healthy behavior and positive self-image. The simple act of recognizing children’s behavior and efforts allows them to feel understood and valued while encouraging them to continue progressing in a positive direction. Additionally, praise has the power to cultivate a desire in children to want to do well in other areas of life too.
Effective Praise
When providing praise to children, it is important that the words used are specific and well-timed. For example, rather than simply saying “good job”, parents should offer praise that is more specific to the situation. Saying something like “It really made me proud to watch you practice so hard and learn that new difficult trick so quickly.” can help to make sure that the child understands why their actions have been praised. Additionally, praise should be offered in the moment and it should be genuine and focused on sharing a positive emotion.
How To Use Praise In Everyday Life
Parents can integrate praise into everyday life and benefit from healthy kids and positive family dynamics. Here are some tips on how to use praise in day-to-day parenting:
- Be generous: Parents should strive to always look for opportunities to praise their kids
- Encourage them: Encourage your children to do their best and let them know you support them
- Listen: Make sure to actively listen to your children and affirm their ideas and feelings
- Be specific: Carefully worded praise can be more meaningful to children
- Repetition: Repetition of affirmations and praise can help them fully absorb the message
Praise Can Help Children To Become Confident
Parents who give their children praise and encouragement can help them to become confident and resilient thinkers. By creating a home environment at home that is filled with warmth and affirmation, kids can gain self-esteem and learn to trust their own opinions while also exploring the world around them with positive outlooks and enthusiasm.
