Positive Reinforcement in Children

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

June Issue 104

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www.thenewsyneighbour.com

The Impact of Positive Reinforcement in Children

When raising children, there are typically two different methods used to help them mature. The first is discipline, which helps children recognize their limits and is used to correct negative behaviours. The second method, positive reinforcement, is often overlooked, but when it is practiced with consistency, many parents notice they do not need to discipline their child's negative behaviour as often. Here are three reasons positive reinforcement is the unsung hero of raising happy children.

1. Everyone needs verbal affirmation.

Everyone loves the feeling of being told they did a good job. Oftentimes, your child may be modeling certain positive behaviours so regularly that it seems commonplace, and you simply don't think to acknowledge or praise their behaviour. Overlooking positive behaviours in your child can leave them feeling like failures, especially when you spend more time disciplining negative behaviours than noticing all of the positives. Look for opportunities to praise your child, and you will notice an increase in positive behaviours.

2. It boosts your child's self-esteem.

A young child that expects their positive attributes to be overlooked can become an incredibly insecure young adult. Someone that does not receive positive reinforcement may eventually feel that what they do does not matter and that they are worthless. Everyone needs to know that their contributions matter. Regularly providing your child with positive reinforcement helps them to become more secure in their role within your family.

3. It helps your child make positive choices.

When children do not receive positive reinforcement, they are likely to become unmotivated. Positive affirmation of your child inspires them to try their hardest all the time. It is important to recognize that you only have your child for a small percentage of their life; if you do not offer praises when they deserve it now, they may eventually believe that the choices they make do not impact others. Help your child see the value in making the right choice early on, so when they are an adult and there is no one around to praise them, they still make the right choices instead of the easy choices.

There are countless ways you can provide your child with affirmation for the positive choices they make. If you grew up with a family that was critical, it may feel unnatural for you to freely offer accolades to your young child at first. However, letting your child know that you value their positive actions now will go a long way in helping them to become happy and fulfilled adults later.