Why the type of praise matters
Studies of children's motivation suggest that praising effort and strategies tends to encourage children to keep trying after setbacks, while praising fixed traits like intelligence can make some children more cautious about difficult tasks. The goal is to help children see that their actions make a difference.
Swap this for that
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| "You're so smart!" | "You figured that out by trying a different way." |
| "Good job." | "You kept going even when the tower fell twice." |
| "You're a natural artist." | "I love how you mixed those colours for the sky." |
| "You're the best!" | "You practised that every day this week, and it shows." |
| "Don't worry, it's easy." | "This one's tricky. What could you try first?" |
Other habits that help
- Ask questions: "How did you decide to do it that way?"
- Notice kindness and fairness, not just achievement
- Talk about your own mistakes and what you learned
- Let children evaluate their own work: "What are you proudest of?"
Praise the process in the moment, and celebrate results too. They're not opposites; the process is just what children can control.