Children need encouragement from adults. Positive reinforcement helps improve a child’s self-esteem, increase their motivation, and above all else, it makes them happier. Many parents struggle to encourage their children effectively. For that reason, we have compiled a list of tips for offering encouragement to a child.
Be Specific
If you are going to tell a child that they did an excellent job with something, you want always to try to be specific. General praise is a lot less meaningful and less effective. For example, if you’re going to tell your child that they played well in their soccer game, instead of just saying, “good job” say something like, “that was a great shot when you scored that goal.” By giving your child specifics, it shows that you really paid attention to them and that you care.
Comment On Their Efforts
Don’t you just hate when your efforts go unnoticed? Well, kids feel the same way. It is more important that a child tried their best than their actual performance. If your child performed poorly on a test that they studied hard for, be sure that you praise their efforts. Let them know that their hard work was not wasted. This will go a long way in increasing their motivation to want to do better.
Don’t Compare Your Child To Other Children
A child can quickly lose motivation when they are compared to others. In many cases, this is virtually unavoidable. Children are subjected to comparison in both school and athletics. It is not always constructive to compare your child to others. When commenting on your child’s performance, there is usually no reason to bring up their siblings, friends, or peers. This can intrinsically make them less motivated.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest.