Apr 13, 2026
How To Praise Your Child - with Educational Psychologist Dr Sanchita Chowhury
👶 How you praise a child matters more than how often you do it.
Children are always looking for attention. And if they are not receiving it for positive behaviour, they will find ways to get it through negative behaviour instead.
Praise works. But only when it lands correctly.
Being specific makes all the difference. Rather than "great job," try something like "I love the way you cleared your plate after dinner." The child knows exactly what they did well and is far more likely to repeat it.
Timing matters too. Praise offered immediately after the behaviour creates a clear connection in a child's mind between the action and the positive response.
And presence is everything. Getting down to their level, using the right tone of voice, and being fully there in that moment tells a child that they are genuinely seen, not just acknowledged.
Small adjustments in how praise is given can have a lasting impact on a child's confidence, motivation, and sense of self-worth.
What's one thing you were praised for as a child that you still remember today?
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