“I’m so proud!” “What a good girl!” “You are SO talented!”
So, there are worse things to say to your child – right?
Of course! But… there are better things to say to them as well, without trafficking in the kind of never-ending praise that sends our kids into a “need it, crave it, got to have it” almost addiction to getting patted on the back.
For many families it’s the beginning of a very slippery slope into entitlement that they find hard to reverse.
“But Amy, that’s what parents DO.”
I get it!
You think you’re helping them be more poised and self-assured, but left unchecked, you may be setting your kid up to be a person who needs constant “atta boys” from everyone around them to feel good about his own ability or choices.
Younger praise junkies may seek approval from parents and teachers. “Do you like my singing, Daddy?” “Was that a good shot?”
But when they’re older – their limitless need for affirmation can send kids gravitating towards their peers or the boyfriend/girlfriend for approval, and becoming the kind of entitled, high-maintenance people that most of us don’t really want to be around.
So, all good intentions aside, let’s start turning that praise junkie tide right now in your home with these three steps: