Scott and Chad sit down and discuss why complimenting your children is a great way to build their self-esteem and confidence, and give you a list of 17 compliments that you can use as a parent to completely make their day.
- Chad’s brother-in-law is a pediatrician and he saw that kids suffered greatly during the past two years of the pandemic. Children were lonely and scared, and were self-harming at alarming rates all over the world.
- Our kids need to be lifted up and strengthened, more so now than ever.
- Consider saying one of the following compliments every single day for the next three months.
- #1 You make me proud.
- Every child wants to know their parents are proud of them. Take 30 seconds and find something you are proud of and let them know.
- #2 I’ve noticed how hard you’ve been trying.
- This reinforces the effort and shows you appreciate the act, not just the end result.
- #3 You inspire me.
- This uplifts kids in a way that’s hard to describe and builds instant connection.
- #4 I can trust you because you’re honest.
- Children want their parents to trust them and will consider that when they have a decision to make. Valuing trust and integrity can be done with a simple compliment.
- #5 You are a great role model.
- Kids want to be a role model for others in things they care about. They want to know they are leading the people behind them.
- #6 You make me want to be the best person I can be.
- This tells you kids that they matter. That they are the reason you want to be better.
- #7 You amaze me.
- Kids want to impress the people they care about. Show them that you notice how awesome they are.
- #8 Your effort hasn’t gone unnoticed and I appreciate it.
- Reward progress, not perfection. If you reward effort and progress you help them create momentum.
- #9 Thank you for teaching me something new.
- There are always new things you can learn from your kids. Tell them that when they show you something you didn’t know.
- #10 I’m lucky to have such a kind child.
- This reinforces the value of kindness that every kid can benefit from having.
- #11 You’ve got so many great ideas.
- Your kids are a font of creation. Tell them that you love that about them and encourage their creativity. Whatever you focus on you get more of.
- #12 You make people around you smile.
- Kids are a great joy if you look for it.
- #13 You’re not afraid to dream big.
- We should be encouraging our children’s dreams and ambitions.
- #14 Your willingness to try is admirable.
- If you encourage their willingness to try, they will put in the effort to try new things more often.
- #15 You bring so much joy to our family.
- Kids have a memory bank that you need to build. The fastest way to remove mental health issues like anxiety, fear, and depression is using compliments like this.
- #16 You glow when you smile.
- Smiling has a physiological effect. Reinforcing the act of smiling makes it more of a habit.
- #17 I really admire the person you have become.
- This acknowledges their growth and that they are a good person as they are.
- Children need parents that build them up and a lot of that has to do with the language we use. Compliments are free so take 21 days and turn complimenting your kids into a habit.
Mentioned in This Episode:
gravystack.com/smart
smartmoneyparenting.com
Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson
Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson
Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott
Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson
Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell
Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson
Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell