Compliments Your Kid Needs to Hear

When someone gives you an unexpected compliment, it can make your day. So, why not do the same for your kids?  Observe the little things they do every day and let them feel appreciated. Children do not need to be fussed over and over praised for doing simple things that should be done every day, or told they are geniuses for putting a Sippy cup in the sink. Children do, however, need to be encouraged—DAILY. They DO need a hug and a kiss every day. They need to feel that they are important. One of the ways you can do this is by complementing.

Now the question is do you know how to compliment your child? Strangely enough, many parents don’t. Here are some handy tips that will help you around it.  

Reinforce the compliment with a smile or a hug or a kiss: 
Body language is the communication of relationships and will be stored in minds and hearts long after its actually done. By combining a hug, pat on the back or warm touch on the arm to indicate approval, you have extended the life of a compliment forever.

Compliment Obedience and Respect:

It’s too easy to fall into patterns of disapproval, where the only time we notice our kids is when they do wrong. Rather than waiting for disobedience or disrespect noticing obedience and respect is crucial.

Compliment Character:

We live in a world where integrity is neither consistently taught nor widely expected. When our children demonstrate honesty, kindness, trustworthiness and reliability, that’s a great time to take them aside and offer a sincere compliment.

Compliment the Quality of their work:

"Way to go!"
"I’m so glad you did your job so well.”
Doing a job at a high standard is always worth noting.

Compliment the effort, even if your child doesn't win:

“You did a fabulous job at the race today, it’s OK if you could not finish first. I am so proud of you for the effort you put in.”   

Compliments can be an important part of our role as teachers. We keep hearing, "its about participation and not about winning and losing". Handling defeat is not very easy hence make sure you compliment the effort your child's put in.

Compliment when they achieve something:

A well-placed compliment can keep a positive ball rolling.

Remember, it is not how you feel about your child; it is how your child perceives you feel about him that is important.  

In the end, however, one should bear in mind that a lot of compliments if given inappropriately can leave a negative impact. Over-complimenting children may set them up to become praise junkies — looking to their parents or others for validation of almost every act or feeling, rather than developing an internal barometer for self-esteem and feelings of accomplishment and achievement.