Some people say that no matter how much you praise children, it will not be enough. Others believe that giving children too much praise will aggravate them and make them feel entitled to anything.
Consider how much praise you give to your child and what kind of praise you give. What kind of praise motivates a child, what kind of praise can harm a child, and how to give the most effective praise? These things are discussed here.
What you need to know:
Not all praise is equally beneficial.        Â
Too much praise for our children can be harmful. Some parents give their children undeserved praise to boost their self-confidence. However, children can understand that their parents are exaggerating and that what they are saying is just nonsense. Moreover, children may conclude that the praise received is not really deserved and therefore cannot trust their parents.
Competency-based praise is required. For example, if your daughter is a good artist, of course, naturally, you will praise her. It will help her become more proficient in her skills. But it also has some shortcomings. If the child is praised only for innate abilities, the child may think that such abilities do not matter. They may hesitate to take on new tasks due to the fear of failure. When it comes to something she needs to try and achieve, she may reply, ‘I’m not good at it, I can’t do it—why should I try and fail.’ That is why it is very good that we motivate them at least sometimes while they are doing other things.
Praise based on constant effort is best. Instead of just praising innate talent, for hard work and continuous effort children are praised. As a result, they learn a basic truth—it takes patience and hard work to develop their skills. It also requires hard work. Once they realize this fact, “they will be willing to work as hard as it takes to get the desired result. In the meantime, if mistakes happen, they will not see it as a failure, but instead as a stepping stone to success.
Appreciate your child’s hard work. Saying “I appreciate your hard work to complete this picture” is more beneficial than saying “You are a born artist”. Both the above statements are praise. But with the second statement, the child can shine only in those areas where innate talents can be demonstrated, without knowing, you put this idea in their minds.
Give constructive criticism. Talking about a child’s failures in an appropriate manner will not destroy his/her self-confidence, but rather help them to grow. And they receive wise counsel as to what further progress can be made when regular praise is given. It is possible that later when they achieve it, that will be something for both of you to be happy about.