04/25/2023
I recently came across some positive affirmations to say to your kids. I love the idea & was going to share it, but I noticed most were labeling such as "you are smart" (interchanged with others such as good, brave, etc). I'd like to caution that based on research, we actually build up our children's confidence and self efficacy better by praising their effort rather than achievement. Focus on WHAT they are doing a great job on and describe it (e.g., I love how hard you worked on your project, I am so proud of how hard you studied for that test, I love how you just shared your toys with your brother, etc). We want them to be proud of themselves and come to their own realization that they are competent and successful while enjoying the learning process. It can be a hard shift to make, but subtle changes can make a difference in building motivation and a lifetime love of learning!