I’ve been reading about positive reinforcement and how it can help kids grow up confident and motivated. But I’m not sure how to actually put it into practice. Any parents here have experience with this? What techniques have worked well for you? I’m especially interested in ways to boost their self-esteem and keep them excited about learning and trying new things. Thanks for any advice!
I’ve found that focusing on the process rather than the outcome has been helpful with my kids. We talk about their ‘growing brain’ and how trying new things helps it get stronger.
For example, when my 7-year-old was learning to ride a bike, we celebrated each time she got on, even if she fell right away. We made a little chart to track her practice time, not how far she went.
My 10-year-old struggled with math, so we started doing ‘challenge problems’ together. The goal wasn’t to get them right, but to try different approaches. He’s more willing to tackle tough homework now.
Small, frequent acknowledgments seem to work better than big rewards. Sometimes it’s just a quick ‘I noticed you…’ comment. It’s amazing how much those little moments can boost their confidence.
I hear you about wanting to boost confidence and motivation! With my two teens, I learned that positive reinforcement isn’t just about praise. It’s also about creating an environment where they feel safe to try new things.
One thing that worked well was setting small, achievable goals together. When my youngest was struggling with math, we broke it down into tiny steps. Each time she mastered one, we’d celebrate. It wasn’t anything big - maybe a high five or her choice of music for the car ride. But those little wins added up.
For my older one, giving him more independence in his chores and schoolwork helped. He got to choose how to organize his time, and we’d check in regularly. Seeing him take charge of his responsibilities really boosted his confidence.
Every kid is different though. What worked for mine might not work for yours. Keep trying different approaches and see what clicks. 
Catching my kids doing something good and mentioning it works well. They seem to repeat those behaviors more. Started a ‘proud moment’ jar where we drop in notes about accomplishments. Reading them together on weekends is fun and motivating for all of us.
I’ve been experimenting with turning chores into games lately. My child really enjoys when we set a timer to see who can put away the most toys. We also keep a chore chart where they earn stickers for completing tasks.
I noticed they seem more willing to try new things and even asked to help with dinner recently. Finding ways to make everyday tasks fun has made a noticeable difference.
What kinds of positive reinforcement have you tried so far?
That’s something I’ve been working on too! I try to praise my child’s efforts, but sometimes I worry if I’m doing it right.
Recently, I started pointing out when they try something new, even if it doesn’t work out perfectly. Like when they attempted to tie their shoes - it was a mess, but they kept at it.
I’m curious how other parents handle this balance. Do you find yourself praising effort more than results? And how do you keep your kids motivated when things get tough?