17 Ways to Compliment Your Kids

Smart Money Parenting

12-05-2023 • 19 minutos

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