behavior routine, praise can help keep the cooperation or good
performance going. Many parents, for example, praise or thank their
kids for complying with simple requests or for following a bedtime or
homework routine.
Keep a sensitive eye on your son or daughter, though, because
praise should be tailored to each child and each situation. Some kids
like rather elaborate, syrupy, and emotional verbal reinforcement,
while others do not. Imagine, for example, your eight-year-old
daughter getting 100 percent on her spelling test. You say, “Oh,
Melissa, that’s just marvelous! I can’t believe it! We’re going to
frame this and overnight a copy of it to Grandma in Florida!” Melissa
eats it up.
Quik TipAre we spoiling our kids with superficial, phony praise? Basically, you can give
elaborate praise to kids younger than seven—they likely can’t tell the difference
between fake and genuine praise. Once kids get older than that, it’s best to dial
back on the praise and make sure that you’re only giving them genuine, heartfelt
compliments.However, Melissa’s eleven-year-old brother would be nauseated
by that kind of talk. For him, “Good job—keep up the good work,”
and a pat on the shoulder might be enough. Your job is to praise the
child, not to embarrass him. The long and short of it is: if your child