Do you praise your children too much?

[ReneRusso]

Did anyone see this article in the times today? What do you think? Just another parenting fad, or is there something in it?

Lots in it IMO. We try not to praise our children. You need to read stuff by Alfie Kohn and/or Faber and Mazlish.

It's not a new fad, btw.

nothing wrong with some encouragement but the whole american thing of 'whoo hoo good work' when they wipe their own arse is probably ott

'Praise should be sincere, limited and about effort rather than achievement'

that's not new it's common sense.

Exactly the same article, just slightly different wording, in my MIL's Reader's Digest copy from sometime in the 80s. Or was it the 70s. It's amazing how these people really seem to think they've thought of something new. Again and again and again.

Yes - vastly too much.

I'm the sort of mum who says 'Darling - that was superb wiping.'

Really.

My children are hugely over confident. Fortunately we live in a deprived area so they rarely meet really well educated and truly accomplished children who would show them up.

doesn't lots of research show that children are motivated by their parents' approval/disapproval? i don't see how that fits in here.

Well, it said that praised children dont achieve as highly - but the article didn't say if they are happier and more confident or not. I suspect they are.

Well, it's all very well as long as your child isn't constantly wonderful and clever and lovely, like mine is. I can't help telling her all day long. Oh, and beautiful too.