Lynda Eagle from ADvTECH Schools explains how effective praise for children shapes their mindset and motivation. This guide helps South African homeschooling parents use praise specifically, celebrate effort, and foster resilience, creating an affirmative learning environment for long-term success.
Effective Praise for Children: Nurturing Growth Mindset in SA Kids
Praise is a remarkably powerful tool. When used mindfully, it can profoundly shape how a child thinks about themselves, influencing their behaviour, motivation, and journey towards self-actualisation. For homeschooling parents in South Africa, understanding and applying effective praise for children can create an affirmative, enabling learning environment and is crucial for developing a growth mindset.
Lynda Eagle, Academic Advisor at ADvTECH Schools, emphasizes that “understanding the nuances of praise and the significant impact that it has on a child’s development and psyche is paramount”. While praise is essential, it’s equally important to encourage effort, resilience, and a love of learning. This, combined with a supportive environment, empowers children to thrive.
The key, Eagle says, is that effective praise for children should be specific, celebrate effort, and emphasise practice. Crucially, “praise should focus on the actions, rather than the innate characteristics of a child”. This distinction is vital for fostering growth mindset parenting in South Africa.
1. Be Specific and Descriptive: The Power of Detail
Vague praise like “Good job!” or “You’re so smart!” might feel good momentarily, but it doesn’t offer much guidance. Specific praise, on the other hand, helps children understand exactly what they did well and how they can build on their skills and knowledge.
Eagle advises a more impactful approach: “Instead of using a generic praise such as ‘Good job!’, it would be more impactful to acknowledge the work that’s been done and the effort applied. For example: ‘I noticed how carefully you arranged those blocks when creating your pattern. Would you like to explain your thinking to me?’”.
For homeschooling parents, this could look like:
- “I saw how you re-read that difficult paragraph until you understood it. That showed great perseverance.”
- “The way you organised your research for this history project with clear sections was very effective.”
- “You were so patient when that science experiment didn’t work the first time, and you carefully checked your steps to see what went wrong. That’s excellent problem-solving.”
When providing effective praise for children, being fully present and showing genuine interest is vital. This not only fosters connection but also provides an opportunity to understand your child’s thinking processes.
2. Celebrate Effort and Progress: The Journey Matters
Focusing on the effort and the learning process, rather than solely on the outcome, is central to developing resilience in children. “When a child’s working towards a goal, it’s important to provide support and encouragement over time,” and “offer praise and acknowledgement of the work that’s been put into achieving the result”. This approach highlights that the process of learning is as important, if not more so, than the final result.
This is fundamental to praising effort not ability. When children understand that their hard work and strategies are valued, they are more likely to tackle challenges. “Acknowledging that learning through our mistakes is a valid part of the learning process removes performance paralysis and inculcates a growth mindset,” Eagle explains. Performance paralysis, the fear of not performing perfectly, can stifle a child’s willingness to try new or difficult things.
Eagle advises, “Praise children when they manage disappointments well and encourage them to keep trying and moving forward”. For example:
- “That maths problem was really tricky, but you stuck with it and tried several different methods. I’m proud of your persistence.”
- “I know you’re disappointed with your mark on that essay, but let’s look at the feedback. I admire your willingness to learn from it.”
Body language also plays a significant role. “Using an enthusiastic tone and adopting a relaxed posture while smiling and acknowledging the child drives the message of support home”. However, sincerity is key, as children can sense inauthenticity.
3. Balance and Reflective Practice: Building Intrinsic Motivation Through Effective Praise for Children
While positive reinforcement in homeschooling is beneficial, it’s important to strike a balance. “Excessive praise, or praise that isn’t sincere, may undermine the child’s intrinsic motivation and the development of a strong internal sense of accomplishment,” Eagle cautions. This aligns with research by Carol Dweck, a leading figure in growth mindset psychology, who noted that inappropriate praise can lead to a “false perception regarding their true abilities and skills”. Dweck’s work, detailed on sites like Mindset Works, distinguishes between a “fixed mindset” (believing abilities are static) and a “growth mindset” (believing abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work). Effective praise nurtures the latter.
“By offering praise when warranted and providing constructive and mindful feedback when necessary, the child builds trust in the process and the support provided”. This trust is essential for their learning journey.
Eagle highlights the importance of “encouraging and engaging in reflective processes”. This helps children recognise what went well, what they could do differently, and identify their next steps. This practice fosters self-motivation, self-assessment, and the ability to transfer knowledge and skills to new situations – critical for lifelong learning.
For homeschoolers, reflective practice could involve:
- Daily or weekly check-ins: “What was one thing you learned today/this week that you’re proud of?” “What was challenging, and how did you approach it?”
- Portfolio reviews: Looking back at past work to see progress and areas for future focus.
- Goal setting: Involving children in setting their own learning goals and reflecting on their progress towards them.
The ADHD Foundation in the UK, which provides resources applicable broadly to neurodiversity and learning, also stresses the importance of specific feedback and focusing on progress over perfection, aligning with these principles.
The Lasting Impact of Mindful Praise
Mindful and specific praise builds trust and has a profound impact on a child’s development. “By mastering the art of praise, parents and teachers can inspire confidence, resilience, a growth mindset and, most importantly, a love of learning in their children,” Eagle concludes.
For South African homeschooling families, embracing these principles of effective praise for children is an investment in their child’s future, equipping them not just with knowledge, but with the self-belief and resilience to navigate challenges and embrace learning as a lifelong adventure.
How do you practice effective praise for children in your homeschool? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below! We encourage you to share this article and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for more valuable insights from ADvTECH schools and other educational experts.