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You often find children trying to do little things to make you happy or get a praise from you. It’s because they thrive on compliments and praise.
This newsletter explores how praising children is a powerful tool which can be used for encouraging good behaviour in children.
The social environment, the stress of growing up with peers with misaligned or divergent values, the need to perform, are increasing restlessness and aggression in children. Parents, teachers, and caregivers find themselves helpless in most situations when they try to inculcate acceptable and positive behaviour. They’re looking for effective strategies to guide the children towards positive behaviour.
In such situations, a simple praise or a compliment can be effectively used to encourage good behaviour in children. It has a sobering effect on them.
Discover simple yet powerful ways to transform your child’s behaviour with positive words and praise techniques.
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
– Oprah Winfrey
The Importance of Praise in Child Development
Using positive reinforcement has been recognized as a powerful tool in modifying the behaviour in children. And its most effective with the younger children. As they acquire new skills, they want to impress the adults around them. A positive word or affirmation is all that they need for them to repeat their behaviour.
You can see it happening all the time. Compliment one child in the class for something specific, and suddenly you find a few more lining up, wanting their efforts will be recognized. I found it helpful to inculcate some good manners and behaviours in the children.
Same at home. If you praise one child, the other will try to outdo the other to gain some praise from you.
The reason praise works is because it boosts their self-esteem, reinforces the desired behaviours, and makes children more likely to repeat them.
The Challenges of Modern Parenting
But you’ve to remember that praise is really not enough to manage the child’s behaviour. It needs reinforcement with affirmations and regular compliments and encouragements.
Praise by itself, when used correctly, is incredibly effective. But when used consistently and sincerely along with compliments, rewards and positive affirmations, it generates better results.
It is essential for parents and caregivers to use positive reinforcement regularly to guide the children towards positive behaviour. It’s easy for children today to get distracted, or face pressures. To ensure that the children remain on the right path, parents, teachers and caregivers must ensure they practice complimenting and praising regularly.
How To Use Praise Effectively
Here are five key strategies to effectively use praise as a positive reinforcement tool.
1. Be Specific: Praise specific actions rather than general behaviour.
2. Be Sincere: Ensure your praise is genuine and heartfelt.
3. Be Immediate: Praise the behaviour as soon as it occurs.
4. Be Consistent: Regularly reinforce positive behaviour.
5. Balance Praise and Constructive Feedback: Use praise to highlight strengths and constructive feedback to guide improvement.
The Broader Impact of Positive Reinforcement
Praise as positive reinforcement is not for the truant child; it has the power to transform individual behaviours and influence the overall family dynamics.
When someone is praised or appreciated, it makes them feel good, creates a happy atmosphere and cultivates a nurturing environment. It improves the self-esteem and raises the confidence of the children, who feels valued and understood.
Praise is no longer just a method for managing behaviour. It’s used for emotional and social development and is now recognized as an important cornerstone for individual development.
Conclusion
Using praise as a positive reinforcement tool can significantly improve the child’s behaviour and result in the overall family harmony.
By being specific, sincere, immediate, and consistent with praise, and balancing it with constructive feedback, parents and caregivers can foster compassion, empathy, and kindness in children.
Remember:
– Be specific with your praise.
– Ensure sincerity in your praise.
– Praise immediately after the positive behaviour.
– Maintain consistency in your praise.
– Balance praise with constructive feedback.
Interesting articles I read
Why running is the ultimate cardiovascular sport?
Why this Bronze Age village became know as ‘Britain’s Pompeii’
How to cope with stress at work – and avoid burnout.
Books by my bedside
Deep Work by Cal Newport
The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James
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