I’ve been trying to encourage my kids more, but I’m not sure if I’m doing it right. Sometimes they seem to lose interest even when I praise them. Are there certain ways to praise children that actually work better for keeping them motivated? Any tips from parents or teachers who’ve had success with this?
In our family, we found that praise worked best when it was genuine and specific. I remember when my daughter was struggling with math homework. Instead of a generic ‘good job,’ I’d say something like ‘I’m impressed by how you tackled that tricky problem.’ It seemed to boost her confidence more.
With my son, who hated cleaning his room, I’d point out the small things. ‘Hey, you hung up all your clothes without being asked!’ That kind of praise made him more likely to do it again.
We also tried to focus on their effort rather than just results. ‘You studied really hard for that test’ worked better than ‘You’re so smart.’ It took some practice to get used to, but over time, I noticed they were more willing to take on challenges.
Every kid is different though. What worked for mine might not work for yours. It’s all about finding what clicks with your children. 
Specific praise for effort works well with my kids.
‘You worked hard on that math problem’ or ‘I like how you kept trying’ motivates them more than general ‘good job’ comments.
Not perfect, but I’ve noticed a difference.
I’ve found that mixing up praise keeps my kid engaged. One day we’ll celebrate how neatly he made his bed, the next I’ll point out his creative toy organizing. Sometimes I’ll just give a thumbs up or high five.
Turning chores into mini-games helps too. We’ll race to see who can put away dishes faster or create silly rhymes while folding laundry. It’s not perfect, but it seems to keep things fresh and fun most days.
In our house, we’ve found that being specific and catching our kids doing things right works really well.
When my son tidies his room, I might say ‘You organized your books so nicely!’ or ‘I noticed how you lined up all your shoes.’
For my daughter, we use a sticker chart for things like brushing teeth or helping set the table. She gets so excited to add stickers and see her progress.
We also try to praise the process, not just results. Like ‘You kept trying even when that puzzle was tricky.’
It’s not perfect, but focusing on small wins and effort seems to keep them motivated most days. They beam with pride when we notice the little things.
I’ve been wondering about this too. My 5-year-old responds differently to praise each day. Sometimes a simple ‘great job’ lights them up, other times they barely notice.
I tried making it more specific like ‘wow, you stacked those blocks so carefully!’ That seemed to work better. But I’m still figuring it out.
Has anyone found praise that consistently motivates their kid? Or does it always change as they grow?