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Encouraging Words Vs. Praise

Your encouraging words for kids can help them thrive in school and life!  How do your words matter? 

Positive words from parents, teachers, and mentors are a rich source of internal motivation and guidance to children and teens. Often, kids recall your words of encouragement for years to come.

 

Encouraging Words Vs. Praise

  1. Be Honest.  Children are the first to recognize when your words are not sincere.
  2. Focus on Effort, Not Ability. 
  3. Be Specific. 
  4. Avoid the Need to Compare.                                                                     
  5. Don't Over-Encourage.
  6. Don't Use Encouragement to Control.      

 
By Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD, creator of the The Compass Advantage:  A Model for Positive Youth Development.  For more information visit Roots of Action.