Positive Parenting - The Pros & Cons of Excessive Encouragement on Child Development

As parents and caregivers, we all want the best for our children. We want them to be confident, resilient, and believe in themselves.

However, it's essential to strike a balance in our approach to encouragement. While support and validation are crucial for a child's well-being, over-praising and excessive encouragement can sometimes have unintended consequences on a child's development. Let’s dive in a little deeper.

The Advantages of Encouragement

Supportive parenting plays a pivotal role in a child's mental health. A study by the American Psychological Association found that children who felt their efforts were recognized and appreciated by their parents were more likely to develop strong self-worth and better emotional resilience (Orth, Robins, & Widaman, 2012).

Encouraging children boosts their motivation and fosters a positive attitude towards challenges. According to the Journal of Children's Health, children exposed to consistent positive reinforcement are more likely to exhibit persistence and a proactive attitude (Davidson & Begley, 2012).

The Pitfalls of Over-Praising

However, like many things in life, balance is critical. Over-praising can sometimes hinder children's wellness. Kids might become reliant on external validation, affecting their intrinsic motivation (Henderlong Corpus & Lepper, 2007). If children are continuously praised for minimal effort, they might not feel the need to push themselves or take on challenging tasks.

Furthermore, excessive praise might lead to an inflated sense of self-worth, making it challenging for children to handle criticism or failure. The Journal of Child and Family Studies suggests that over-praised children might struggle with self-criticism, which could impact their mental health in the long run (Brummelman et al., 2014).

Striking the Balance

Providing genuine praise is essential to foster a healthy sense of self-esteem and well-being in children. Recognize their efforts and progress rather than offering blanket praise for every action. Encourage children to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and celebrate successes. Incorporate mindfulness practices to help children understand their emotions and reactions, cultivating a more grounded and balanced self-view.

Explore More

Are you interested in diving deeper into children's mental health and well-being topics?

The Calm Kids Club offers many resources, articles, and guided meditation recordings designed to support and guide parents and children.

Discover a world of knowledge tailored for the holistic development of children.

References

- Orth, U., Robins, R. W., & Widaman, K. F. (2012). Life-span development of self-esteem and its effects on important life outcomes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(6), 1271–1288.

- Davidson, R. J., & Begley, S. (2012). The emotional life of your brain. New York: Hudson Street Press.

- Henderlong Corpus, J., & Lepper, M. R. (2007). The effects of person versus performance praise on children's motivation: Gender and age as moderating factors. Educational Psychology, 27(4), 487-508.

- Brummelman, E., Thomaes, S., Nelemans, S. A., Orobio de Castro, B., Overbeek, G., & Bushman, B. J. (2014). When parents' praise inflates, children's self-esteem deflates. Child Development, 85(6), 1905-1921.