I’ve been reading about different parenting approaches and keep coming across positive reinforcement as a key strategy. I understand the basic concept but I’m curious about how it actually helps with a child’s overall development and personal growth.
Does anyone have experience with this or know more about the psychology behind it? I’m particularly interested in understanding the long-term benefits beyond just getting kids to behave better in the moment.
Thanks for any insights!
My 5 year old is just starting with simple tasks and I’m trying to figure out the praise thing too. Sometimes I wonder if praising everything makes it feel fake? Like when I say “good job” for basic stuff, does that actually help them grow or just make them need constant approval? I’m curious how you know when you’re doing enough positive reinforcement versus too much.
My kids respond way better to praise than nagging. When I catch them doing something good and mention it, they tend to repeat that behavior more often. It builds their confidence too - they start trying new things because they know mistakes are okay.
I’ve noticed that positive reinforcement really encourages my kids to see their own achievements. Lately, my younger child has started pointing out when she helps around the house or shares with friends, and it feels great to hear her take pride in those moments.
I try to focus on recognizing their efforts rather than just the outcome. For instance, when my 7-year-old attempts something new, I make sure to highlight the effort she put in, which seems to motivate her to keep trying. My 10-year-old has developed more confidence too because he’s learning to tackle challenges without the fear of failure. The most rewarding part is seeing them develop that encouraging voice inside themselves. It’s rewarding and makes parenting so fulfilling!
We’ve been experimenting with celebrating small wins at home, like when my kid remembers to put dishes in the sink without being asked. What I’ve noticed is that it seems to build this internal motivation where she starts looking for ways to help out. She’ll actually come tell me when she’s done something responsible, which never happened when I was just pointing out what she did wrong. It’s like she’s developing her own sense of pride in contributing to the family.
What I learned with my own kids is that positive reinforcement really shapes how they see themselves. My 17 year old now takes initiative with things because she got used to hearing what she was doing right instead of constantly being corrected.
The tricky part is making sure the praise feels genuine. My 14 year old can spot fake enthusiasm from a mile away. What worked better was being specific about what they did well rather than just saying ‘great job.’ Like ‘I noticed you helped your sister with her homework without me asking’ hits different than generic praise.
One thing that surprised me was how it changed our whole family dynamic. When I started pointing out good choices more than mistakes, both kids became more willing to try new things. They weren’t as worried about messing up because they knew I’d notice their effort.
The long-term benefit I see now is that they’ve internalized that positive voice. My older daughter doesn’t need me to validate every decision anymore. She’s learned to recognize her own good choices 