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The Ultimate Guide to Praising Your Kids
Many parents - until recently, myself included - hold the mistaken belief that it’s important to shower our children with constant praise. Praising our children is instinctual, almost a reflex. Any time your child does something wonderful, it seems natural to say, “Great job!”
But we have to think about what we’re really accomplishing with all this praise. Praise can benefit motivation and self-esteem, but these effects aren’t always lasting. Our ultimate goal should be to nurture our child’s intrinsic motivation.
We don’t want our children to become addicted to praise, motivated solely by external approval. As much as possible, we want them to be motivated internally. Our children should want to make an effort, perform well, learn, and grow because it is personally satisfying.
Effective praise, given at the right time, can nurture intrinsic motivation. It can help our children become confident, resilient, and self-directing. -
Boys vs. Girls: How Puberty Affects ADHD Symptoms
Hormonal changes directly impact most adolescents’ ADHD symptoms. But the shift can look different for males and females. Here’s what to watch out for — and how you can help your child navigate the changes of puberty.
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Children's Mental Health- Key Findings: Treatment of Disruptive Behavior Problems – What Works?
The Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology has published a study reviewing the research on treatments for disruptive behavior problems in children aged 12 years and under. This report also updates the evidence for what works best to treat children with disruptive behavior problems. In this study, CDC researchers looked at different approaches to treatment and found the best evidence was for parent behavior therapy, when delivered either as group therapy or individually with child participation.
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Free Spirit Publishing offers books for children and parents about children's social-emotional needs.
Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Free Spirit Publishing is known for its unique understanding of what kids want and need to navigate life successfully. Our reputation as the leading publisher of Self-Help for Kids® and Self-Help for Teens® is grounded in books and other learning materials that are practical, positive, pro-kid, and solution focused. We’re not afraid to tackle tough topics such as teen depression, kids and anxiety, grief and loss, juvenile justice, and conflict resolution. Free Spirit also offers sound advice with a sense of humor on relevant issues including stress management, character building, puberty, school success, self-esteem, service learning, and more.
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The Two-Minute Relationship Builder
What if instead of going head-to-head with your most challenging student, you created an ally in him? During the 2013 ASCD Conference on Educational Leadership, presenter Grace Dearborn shared a strategy for making that happen: the "Two-by-Ten."
