As parents, we often go out of our way to make our children’s tiniest accomplishments seem huge, and we are always exceptionally proud of them. While we believe this helps build self-confidence in our children, studies have something entirely different to say.

If you are someone who was wondering whether you are praising your children right and in what ways you can praise them, then you have landed on the right page. Hop on below to learn whether praising your children too much is a thing and how you can praise them to ensure that you get it right.

Are Parents Praising Their Children Too Much?

It is commonly believed that when one praises a child on something they do, they are likely to not only be happy but also ensure that they do it right again. This is one reason why many psychologists and experts in children believe that when one catches a child doing something right, it is necessary to pass a nice compliment their way.

However, there are a few others who disagree with the idea entirely. According to them, praising your children might seems like the right thing to do, it is actually not. Too much praise or praise beyond a certain boundary can actually be bad for kids. Want to know why? We have it covered for you below.

What Happens if One Praises Their Kids Beyond a Certain Boundary?

Research conducted over the past twenty to thirty years has concluded that too much praise can actually be bad for kids. According to it, the most significant issue with too much praise is that it makes a child feel that they are being regarded conditionally. This makes them feel like they have to keep on doing things that they evaluate positively to be considered worthy. 

Praising, a concept of positive reinforcement, promotes conditional love. However, children should be loved unconditionally. Some researchers have also concluded that praising children too much reduces the quality of their praise. 

Overdoing anything is not good. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t praise your children at all, right? So, this brings us to the question of whether praising your children is necessary.

So, is Praising Your Children Still Necessary?

While we did mention that praising your children beyond a certain boundary can lead them to refrain from doing the right thing, it certainly doesn’t mean that the kids don’t like praise, right?

Children are tiny humans who feed off the compliments and attention they receive from their elders. Hence, as someone who has little kids roaming around in their house, it is essential to understand the perfect balance of praise to give them. If you want to help understand how to praise your children without having any adverse effects, then we have a few tips for you in the next paragraph.

How Should One Praise Their Children Then?

Children require positive interactions from their elders all the time, and hence, receiving too much praise certainly doesn’t mean that you should cut out any positivity. In fact, according to many types of research conducted recently, while too much praise is not suitable for children, they certainly still need their elders to be optimistic around them. So, the question is, if you aren’t going to praise them a lot, how can you still maintain a positive and healthy environment for them:

Express Gratitude

Showing children gratitude is the first key to showing them positivity. When you see that your child has done something nice or of great value, ensure that you say ‘thanks’ to them for the work they did.

For example, if a child cleans up his room without you asking, appreciate him for it. If they finish all their dinner, let them know that you are grateful that they enjoyed the meal. Moreover, if they share their toys with their friends, make sure you let them know how proud you are of them for their caring nature. However, do not make it a habit of expressing gratitude for the same thing every day.

Be Encouraging

As an adult, you need to teach children that the efforts they put in will eventually bring them rewards.  When you see a child doing something difficult, instead of praising them for it, speak with them about the whole engagement process and the valuable strategies that they can apply. Then, at the end of the process, describe all the efforts that you observed that they use and the outcome the children achieved.

Be Supportive

Parents must also be supportive of their children. Praise aside, having your child feel safe and heard is one of the most essential aspects of maintaining a healthy relationship with them.

When children know that they can confide in their parents or that they have their parents’ support, nothing can stop them from achieving what they want with ease. They would not need praise from anyone to feel validated, and support would only be enough to help them grow forward in life. 

So, the next time your children accomplish a goal, express your gratitude, motivate them, and show your support. Make them aware that you will be by their side, no matter what, but they have to be responsible enough to manage their things on their own in the first place. This behavior will also promote self-independence. 

Wrapping Up!

If you have heard from someone that praising children too much has negative impacts, then we hope this article was helpful for you. We tried to cover all essential points as to why praising children within a boundary can be concerning and what alternative measures you can take to ensure that you can help maintain a certain level of praise and positivity in your child’s life. Let us know if you have anything to share with us.