I’ve been reading about different teaching methods and keep coming across positive reinforcement. I get the basic idea but I’m curious about how it actually works in practice with kids. Does it really make that much of a difference in how well they learn? I’m thinking about things like praise, rewards, recognition - that kind of stuff. Would love to hear from teachers or parents who have experience with this.
Positive reinforcement works, but timing is everything. With my 14 and 17 year olds, I’ve found that catching them in the moment beats praising them hours later.
My younger one hated reading assignments. Instead of harping on what he wasn’t doing, I started noticing when he’d actually crack open his book or ask decent questions about the story. Those quick acknowledgments built momentum. He still doesn’t love reading, but the fights stopped.
With my older daughter, generic “good job” praise fell flat. Getting specific - like “I saw how you broke down that chemistry problem step by step” - actually stuck.
The key is not overdoing it. Too much praise feels fake to kids, especially teens. I had to find the sweet spot where recognition felt real and earned. It’s not magic, but it sure beats constantly nagging about what they’re screwing up.
Highlighting what my kids do right completely changes their attitude. When my daughter struggled with math, I celebrated every small win. That shift made her actually want to do homework. Seeing them feel proud of their achievements is incredible. My son used to get crushed by mistakes, but now he asks for help because he knows I’m rooting for his effort. Yeah, I have to pay more attention to catch those moments, but their confidence boost has been worth it. They’re way more willing to explore and try new stuff now.
I’m doing this with my 5-year-old and basic chores. When I catch them putting their plate in the sink without being asked, I make a huge deal about it. They absolutely light up and want to help even more. Still trying to figure out the sweet spot between actual rewards and just praise though. Sometimes I worry I’m overdoing it or that they’ll only help when they know I’m watching. How do you tell if you’re getting it right? Does this stuff change as they get older?
My kids’ grades improved once I quit obsessing over report cards and started celebrating their hard work instead. Math homework used to end in tears - now they actually ask for help. They don’t let mistakes crush them anymore either.
I remember my son used to completely shut down when faced with something challenging. I began to notice when he’d persist on a problem for more than a few minutes and would simply say, ‘I see you really working on that.’ It was nothing fancy, just acknowledging his effort. Over time, he stopped giving up so quickly and started asking better questions. The dynamic shifted from me nagging him to try harder to him actually wanting to figure things out. It took time, but now he takes on challenges he once would have avoided.