Ways to Praise That Actually Stick
What is Labeled Praise?
Labeled praise is when you clearly say what your child or teen did well, so they know exactly what behavior you’re encouraging. It’s more powerful than just saying “good job” because it tells them what they did right and helps them do it again.
Why it works:
✔Helps kids feel seen and encouraged
✔Reinforces skills like bravery, kindness, and flexibility
✔Strengthens your connection
✔Boosts motivation more than vague praise (like “good job”)
3 Tips to Make Praise More Powerful:
1. Be specific. Say what you saw and why it mattered.
2. Catch the small stuff. Don’t wait for perfection.
3. Lead with encouragement, not correction. Praise first—then coach later.
Not sure where to start? Try:
“I noticed…” ,“That was brave because…” or “It helped a lot when you…”.
Examples For Kids (ages ~5–10) .
“You stayed calm even when it was hard—that’s not easy, and you did it.”
“I saw you use your words instead of yelling. That was awesome.”
“Thank you for trying again when that didn’t work the first time.”
“I love how you shared with your sibling without me reminding you.”
“You were really brave to go even when you felt nervous.”
“I noticed how kind you were to your friend when they were upset.”
Examples For Tweens & Teens: Try...
“You were honest about how you felt—that shows a lot of maturity.”
“You handled that situation with a lot of self-control.”
“You showed leadership when you helped clean up without being asked.”
“That was really responsible of you to check your calendar on your own.”
“You were flexible when our plans changed—I appreciate that so much.”
“It was really cool to see you step out of your comfort zone today.”