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Posted by: Jeremy & Amanda | Tuesday, April 19th, 2022 ( 9:37am)
Compliments feel great! YOU enjoy them and so do your kids! We found this list of 10 compliments you need to make sure to share with your kids!
- Compliment their character.
- We live in a world where integrity is neither consistently taught nor widely expected. When our children demonstrate honesty, kindness, trustworthiness, and reliability, that’s a great time to take them aside to offer a sincere compliment.
- Compliment obedience and respect.
- It’s too easy to fall into patterns of disapproval, where the only time we notice is when kids do wrong. Rather than waiting for disobedience or disrespect (then coming down like a ton of bricks), try noticing obedience and respect: “I don’t always remember to tell you, but you are an awesome young man, and I appreciate the way you treat people.”
- Compliment them for simply being part of the family.
- “Every time I see you, I’m thankful that I’m your mom.” Kids need to understand that they are valued simply because they are who they are, not for what they do.
- Compliment contributions to the family.
- “Clearing the table (sweeping the porch, putting out the trash) makes a real difference. I appreciate your contribution.” Kids need to understand that what they do makes a difference, that the adults notice, and that pitching in is a good part of family life.
- Compliment the quality of their work.
- “This is one clean porch, mister!” “You mowed the lawn right up to the edge. Way to go! I’m so glad you take this job so seriously—it shows.” Doing a job at a high standard is always worth noting.
- Compliment the effort, even when the result is not the best.
- “Your willingness to help makes me happy! Now, we need to take a look at how you can get the trash to the curb without leaving a trail!” Compliments can be an important part of our role as teachers.
- Compliment when they achieve something new.
- “Wow! That’s a huge leap forward for you there in math, pal.” “Awesome! I’m not at all surprised after you worked so hard.” A well-placed compliment can keep a positive ball rolling.
- Compliment their sense of style, even if we don’t exactly share their taste.
- We don’t want to force our kids into being clones of us. “When putting together an outfit, you certainly have some flair!” “I can tell that you put a lot of thought into the way you look.” “I’ve never seen a table set quite like that before—you have an amazing imagination!” It’s not useful to limit compliments to the narrow range of our own taste.
- Compliment steps toward a long-term goal.
- “Son, the improvement you’re showing is commendable. Thanks for trying.” Waiting for perfection before we’re willing to dish out a compliment is inefficient, may dampen enthusiasm, and does little to help the process of growth.
- Compliment their friends.
- But only do this when you can do it honestly! “Your friends are the greatest!” “That Jess is such a good kid.” “You know, it gives me a lot of confidence to know you use common sense in choosing your friends.”
Hope you find this helpful! Retrieved from iMom.com
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