Praising children is very important whether you are a teacher or a parent. Here are some tips that will help make praise mean more to the child.

1. 1. Be specific. “Good job, Johnny” is not specific and can be said to anyone for any reason. “Johnny, I noticed that reading that paragraph was tough, but you took your time and tried your best. Nice job.” This is specific enough so that Johnny knows that you mean it and it is real.
   2. Give praise when you really mean it. This teaches children that you recognize when a task is tough for them. It also helps them value the praise that you give.
   3. Quality over quantity. Praising too much can cause a child to feel belittled and actually achieve lower. Give specific praise when praise is due instead of meaningless praise often.