One Sentence a Day: How to Grow Your Child's Mind
Min Jung KwonSummer vacation means more time spent with children, which means more opportunities to praise them . However, we often end up repeating familiar yet vague compliments like, "You're a good kid," or "You did a good job."
Today, I'd like to talk about a scientific method of praise that promotes behavior and growth : 'Labeled Praise.'
🌱 What is Labeled Praise?
Specific praise is words that accurately point out a child's behavior.
Instead of simply saying, “Good job!”
“It was really nice of you to organize all the blocks for me.”
“Thank you for sharing the toy with my little brother.”
This way, you can specifically mention what your child did well.
📊 Why does it matter? (Scientific evidence)
Many educational research studies, including PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), have shown that specific praise is effective in reducing problem behaviors , improving social skills , increasing self-efficacy , and improving parent-child relationships .
Studies such as Eyberg et al. (2008) have shown that specific praise is “one of the most powerful parenting strategies for getting children to perform a behavior more often,” especially for children with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and language delays. It provides clarity of reinforcement and helps them to consistently reproduce the behavior.
🕰️ When is it best to use it?
1) Immediately when the child behaves positively
2) When you try even a small action (effort-centered praise)
3) When unexpected spontaneous behavior occurs
Specific praise is more effective in “small, repetitive everyday moments” rather than “special moments.”
🎯 Please use it like this!
| situation | Specific examples of praise |
|---|---|
| Cleanup time | “Thanks for cleaning up my toys by myself!” |
| During play | “You solved all the puzzles without giving up!” |
| mealtime | “You even ate all the vegetables! It’s great that you’re not a picky eater.” |
| sibling relationship | “You’re very considerate of me to let my younger sibling choose first.” |
| emotional regulation | “It’s really mature of you to express yourself without getting angry.” |
Words that acknowledge a child's specific behavior as it is help build a child's self-efficacy and help them believe, "I am a child who can do good things."
📎 Free resource to use: 《One Sentence a Day, Specific Praise Worksheet》
To help you put praise into practice and record it in your daily life with your child, wouldn't it be a good idea to write down one sentence at a time and use it in your daily life? Even if you understand it intellectually, in reality, you'll continue to use familiar expressions.
📥 Download : One Sentence a Day Specific Praise Worksheet
✅ Please use it like this:
1. Read the example sentences provided and create your own sentences.
2. Say one sentence a day warmly to your child immediately after the behavior ends .
3. Record or check the date and sentences used directly on the worksheet.
4. Repeat and feel the change in your child's reaction and the impact of your words .
Giving specific praise isn't difficult, right? It's a way to acknowledge your child's behavior as it is and express it warmly in words, but actually saying it can feel more awkward than you might think.
Still, if you start this summer with one sentence a day, you will feel your relationship with your child deepen and your child's inner self become a little stronger :)