08/11/2021
Do you ever get an excited or happy feeling when youâve been told, âjob well doneâ? Imagine how powerful it is when children hear it from their peers and from adults.
Just like adults, kids deserve⌠and NEED their flowers/ credit/ praise. It boosts confidence and motivation. One of the tricks is to be specific when praising:
Instead of, âWow, good job!â
Try, âYou worked really hard on that puzzle and were able to complete it!â
This type of praise reinforces certain character traits ie. perseverance, grit, healthy habits, etc.
Caveat: While we want to encourage positive character traits, we also want to value kids as they are and meet them where theyâre at. Sometimes over praising or praising certain behaviors âleads to kids seeking applause or hiding flaws rather than acting with integrity and authenticity.â (Kennedy-Moore)
At Teach Me Tutors, weâre in the self-confidence boosting business where we cater to the whole child. This includes their social and emotional needs. Check out Kid Confidence by Eileen Kennedy- Moore and Raising Confident Black Kids by MJ Fievre for more information about this topic.