How to Effectively Praise Your Kids and Steer Their Behavior
"Let me help you with those shoes"
"Hold my hand tight"
"We have to wait for the traffic to pass"
"Do you want your blankie?"
In much of our interaction with kids we’re on automatic. In our responses, instructions and questions we usually come from an every-day-type of consciousness, as illustrated by the examples above.
Don’t get me wrong: most of the time it’s absolutely fine to be on automatic; life would become quite tiresome and unnatural if each and every comment had to be mulled over extensively before being expressed. There is an aspect of parenting, however, where deliberately planning and timing what you say greatly enhances your child rearing practice. That aspect is paying compliments. Ideally, a compliment is a positive reinforcer: a compliment motivates the recipient to increase the frequency of the behavior that called forth the compliment.
When you, the parent, know how to pay compliments effectively, both your kids and you stand to gain tremendously.
Literature on bringing out the best behavior in people and specifically in kids (see references below) shows quite a bit of agreement on what works and what doesn’t. Here I’ll share some of the strategies that have proven most effective in my life while raising three boys.
Six Features of Effective Compliments
Compliments reinforce desired behavior when they are immediate, specific, frequent, singular, relevant and genuine.
Compliments are most effective when given immediately following the desired behavior.
2. Specific
Describe the desired behavior, or the accomplishment, and what it means. See examples below.
3. Frequent
Make your appreciation count by expressing it often.
When kids are not told they are appreciated they are likely to assume the opposite. Do not overdo it, though, and try to stick to a 1:4 ratio, meaning: for every corrective comment you make, say something positive, such as a compliment.
When kids are not told they are appreciated they are likely to assume the opposite. Do not overdo it, though, and try to stick to a 1:4 ratio, meaning: for every corrective comment you make, say something positive, such as a compliment.
4. Singular
A compliment is most effective when it stands alone, when it gets the full limelight.
Don’t mix positive and negative comments. As soon as you add "but + (critical note)", you have negated thecompliment's positive effects. Corrective statements have their place for sure. When offered at an appropriate moment and within the context of an open, honest conversation, they help clarify goals and motivate your child to perform at their best level. Expressed this way they actually increase the impact of your compliments.
Don’t mix positive and negative comments. As soon as you add "but + (critical note)", you have negated thecompliment's positive effects. Corrective statements have their place for sure. When offered at an appropriate moment and within the context of an open, honest conversation, they help clarify goals and motivate your child to perform at their best level. Expressed this way they actually increase the impact of your compliments.
5. Relevant
Only pay a compliment when it has been truly earned. Praise offered routinely will desensitize your children, or even worse, make them dependent on your constant approval.
6. Genuine
Mean what you say. Faked appreciation is not going to cut it.
Examples
Consider the following examples:
"Thank you for bringing your plate and cup to the kitchen. That helps make my task easier."
"Thank you for playing quietly while I was on the phone. I could give my full attention to grandma and I know she appreciates our courtesy."
"You played the part of shepherd very convincingly. Aren’t you proud of yourself?"
"I noticed you waited for Gina. That was considerate of you."
These comments convey your appreciation much more convincingly than would a mere routine "Thank you" or a general "You were great!". They go a long way in fostering behavior that is appropriate and desirable.
If you’d like to learn more about bringing out the best in your child, just google the phrase or one of the following phrases: ‘praising your child’, ‘encouraging good behavior’, visit the sites below or check out the book Bringing Out the Best in People, by Aubrey Daniels. 2000. McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-007-135145-0.
http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/social/how-to-praise-your-kids/?page=1
http://familyshare.com/worst-5-ways-to-compliment-your-child
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/children-praise_n_4549369.html
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/Positive-Parenting-How-To-Encourage-Good-Behavior.aspx