Praise helps a child’s growth

POWERFUL: IT HAS AN IMPACT ON THEIR BEHAVIOUR, MOTIVATION AND SELF-ACTUALISATION

Parents can research how to practically assist.

Praise is a powerful tool that can shape how children think about themselves and ultimately impacts on their behaviour, motivation and self-actualisation. When used mindfully, praise can help to create an affirmative, enabling learning environment and develop a growth mindset.

An education expert says it is important to understand the dynamics of effective praise to ensure it has the intended impact.

Lynda Eagle, academic advisor at ADvTech schools, says: “As a parent/guardian or teacher, understanding the nuances of praise and the significant impact it has on a child’s development and psyche is paramount.

“While praise is essential, it is equally important to encourage effort, resilience and the development of a love of learning in the child,” she adds.

“Combining this with a supportive environment means empowering the child and enabling them to thrive and be successful.”

Eagle says effective praise should be specific, celebrate effort and emphasise practice.

“Praise should focus on the actions, rather than the innate characteristics of a child.”

Be specific and descriptive

Being specific helps children understand what they did well and how they can build on or extend their skills, understanding and knowledge.

“Instead of using a generic praise such as ‘good job’ it would be more impactful acknowledging the work that has been done and the effort applied.

‘I noticed how carefully you arranged those blocks when creating your pattern. Would you like to explain to me your thinking?’,” suggests Eagle.

When praising a child, it’s important that the adult is fully present and genuinely interested. This fosters connections and helps build reciprocal relationships. It’s an opportunity to engage with the child, share in their experiences and get a deeper understanding of their thinking.

Celebrate effort and progress

Where a child is working towards a goal, it is important to provide support and encouragement over time. Adults can offer praise and acknowledgement of the work that has been put into achieving the result.

This highlights the fact that the effort and process in achieving the goal is as, if not more, important than the outcome. Acknowledging that learning through our mistakes is a valid part of the learning process, removes performance paralysis and inculcates a growth mindset.

“Mistakes and setbacks are seen as important learning opportunities. Praise children when they manage disappointments well and encourage them to keep trying and moving forward.”

Eagle says body language is also important.

“Using an enthusiastic tone, adopting a relaxed posture, while smiling and acknowledging the child, drives the message of support home and gives children the psychological boost they need to continue doing their best.

“Take care to be sincere however as children can sense inauthenticity and fake praise,” adds Eagle.

Balance and reflective practice

It is important to remember that excess

praise or praise that is not sincere may undermine the child’s intrinsic motivation and the development of a strong internal sense of accomplishment.

Further, as noted by American psychologist Carol Dweck, this may lead to the “development of a false perception regarding their true abilities and skills”.

By offering praise when warranted and providing constructive and mindful feedback when necessary, the child builds trust in the process and the support provided as they navigate their way through various learning experiences.

Eagle says encouraging and engaging in reflective processes aids children with the recognition of what went well, what they may do differently and the next steps.

This helps to foster the development of self-motivation and self-assessment and ultimately the transfer of knowledge, skills and understandings, to new and unfamiliar settings – now and in their future.

Mindful and specific praise builds trust and has a profound impact on a child’s development.

“By mastering the art of praise, parents and teachers can inspire confidence, resilience, a growth mindset and most importantly, a love of learning in their children,” says Eagle.

It’s important for the adult to be interested