{"id":27618,"date":"2024-04-10T17:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/?p=27618"},"modified":"2024-04-15T06:52:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T11:52:23","slug":"compliments-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/compliments-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"110 Powerful Compliments for Kids to Boost Their Self-Worth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"meta-desc\">Inside: Self-worth is important to your child&rsquo;s mental health and happiness, but some types of praise can actually hurt their self-worth. Here are the best compliments for kids to lift them up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One night while my four kids were in various stages of bathing, showering, or getting ready for bed, I took a sweep through the house to corral the never-ending stream of clutter. As I bent down next to the couch to scoop up a pile of LEGOs, something on the couch caught my eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A streak of vivid purple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I slowly stood up, my eyes followed the trail of purple to where one of our cats was lying on the back of the couch. Her entire left side was <strong>covered<\/strong> in purple paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&rsquo;s when I connected the dots. Earlier that day, my 10-year-old budding artist had asked if she could paint a canvas&mdash;one of her absolute favorite things to do. &ldquo;Yep,&rdquo; I&rsquo;d said. &ldquo;As long as you clean it up after.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spoiler alert: She didn&rsquo;t clean it up after. And now our leather couch was sporting purple stripes, plus our cat had apparently entered her punk phase?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"yellowbox\"><strong>Bonus:<\/strong> As a bonus for joining my weekly newsletter, <a class=\"modal-trigger\" href=\"#get-printable-compliments\">get a free cheat sheet<\/a> of the 110 most powerful compliments for kids to boost their self-worth.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-blocks-modal-link{color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);border-radius:0px;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;}#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-blocks-modal-link:hover, #kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-blocks-modal-link:focus{color:#f96d60;}#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-overlay, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-overlay, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-overlay{background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);}#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-overlay, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-overlay, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-overlay{-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container{width:100%;max-width:700px;-ms-flex-pack:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;text-align:left;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;}#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container{padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:10px;}#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container{background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-left-radius:3px;border-top-right-radius:3px;border-bottom-right-radius:3px;border-bottom-left-radius:3px;border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-close svg, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-close svg, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-close svg{width:24px;height:24px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container{width:100%;border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-close svg, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-close svg, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-close svg{width:24px;height:24px;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-container{width:100%;border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}#kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-close svg, #kt-target-modal27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-close svg, .kb-modal-content27669_6a94c0-7c .kt-modal-close svg{width:24px;height:24px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-modal aligncenter kt-modal-linkalign-center\" id=\"kt-modal27669_6a94c0-7c\"><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id27618_ff4558-ca .kb-table-of-content-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id27618_ff4558-ca .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id27618_ff4558-ca .kb-table-of-contents-title{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;text-transform:uppercase;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id27618_ff4558-ca .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-here-s-the-good-news-and-the-bad\">Here&rsquo;s the Good News (And the Bad)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to a miraculous infusion of patience I didn&rsquo;t know I had, I managed <em>not<\/em> to lose my temper or even raise my voice, and personally, I consider that a parenting win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a calm tone, I made my points. &ldquo;If you want to be able to paint, you need to take responsibility for cleaning it up after.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She hung her head and in a <strong>small<\/strong> voice said, &ldquo;I know.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&ldquo;When you finish an activity, you can&rsquo;t just wander off to start something new. You need to put things away first. This isn&rsquo;t the first time something like this has happened.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&ldquo;I know,&rdquo; she repeated. Then in an even smaller voice: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just bad at remembering stuff.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My heart squeezed. &ldquo;Hey.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She looked up, and I pulled her in for a hug. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re not bad at remembering. It&rsquo;s normal for kids to forget stuff like that. It&rsquo;ll get easier.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But later, her words kept coming back to me. I wondered: <em>Are my nagging reminders making my child think less of herself? Should I be complimenting her more often? Am I adding fuel to the fire of her inner critic?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/how-to-love-your-child\/\">101 Heartfelt and Simple Ways to Love Your Child Every Day<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-sad-girl.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"741\" data-pin-id=\"128000814403825518\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-sad-girl-1024x741.jpg\" alt=\"When a child's self-worth is low, are compliments for kids the answer?\" class=\"wp-image-27655\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-sad-girl-1024x741.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-sad-girl-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-sad-girl-768x556.jpg 768w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-sad-girl.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-sad-girl.jpg\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@miracletwentyone?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joseph Gonzalez<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-you-need-to-know-about-your-child-s-self-worth\">What You Need to Know About Your Child&rsquo;s Self-Worth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As parents, we want our children to grow up to be healthy, happy, and confident, and an essential component of a child&rsquo;s mental health is their self-worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here&rsquo;s why:<\/strong> When a person possesses self-worth, that means they evaluate themselves as an inherently valuable, capable human being who&rsquo;s worthy of respect, compassion, and love.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"1\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-1\">1<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-1\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"1\">American Psychological Association. (2023, November 15). <em>APA Dictionary of Psychology: self-worth.<\/em> American Psychological Association. <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.apa.org\/self-worth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> Self-esteem also feeds into self-worth because high self-esteem means feeling confident in your own abilities and strengths.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"2\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-2\">2<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-2\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"2\">Rende, R. (2023, November 14). <em>I&rsquo;m a Parent and a Psychologist: Here Are 5 Signs of Low Self-Worth in Kids.<\/em> Parents. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parents.com\/parenting\/better-parenting\/advice\/im-a-mom-and\/im-a-dad-and-a-psychologist-these-are-the-signs-of-low-self-worth-in-kids-and-how-to-help\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you might imagine, research shows that children with high self-worth and high self-esteem are more likely to be happy and confident.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"3\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-3\">3<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-3\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"3\">Orth, U. &amp; Robins, R. W. (2014). The Development of Self-Esteem. <em>Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23<\/em>(5), 381-387. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0963721414547414\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> <sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"4\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-4\">4<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-4\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"4\">Reddy, B., Reddy, S., &amp; Reddy, S. R. (2020). Assessment of Self-Esteem and its Correlation with Happiness in Adolescents. <em>Indian Journal of Youth and Adolescent Health, 6<\/em>(2), 3-6. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.24321\/2349.2880.201907\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> In fact, low self-worth or self-esteem can lead to depression in kids.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"5\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-5\">5<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-5\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"5\">Babore, A., Trumello, C., Candelori, C., Paciello, M., &amp; Cerniglia, L. (2016). Depressive Symptoms, Self-Esteem and Perceived Parent-Child Relationship in Early Adolescence. <em>Frontiers in Psychology, 7<\/em>, 982. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2016.00982\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> But high self-worth and self-esteem are so powerful they can even increase a child&rsquo;s relationship and job satisfaction later in life.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"6\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-6\">6<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-6\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"6\">Marshall, S. L., Parker, P. D., Ciarrochi, J., &amp; Heaven, P. C. L. (2014). Is self-esteem a cause or consequence of social support? A 4-year longitudinal study. <em>Child Development, 85<\/em>(3), 1275&ndash;1291. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/cdev.12176\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-boost-your-child-s-self-worth\">How Do You Boost Your Child&rsquo;s Self-Worth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With self-worth being so important to your child&rsquo;s mental health, happiness, and confidence, you might be wondering what you can do to nurture it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&rsquo;s the <strong>good news<\/strong>: Parental warmth boosts your child&rsquo;s self-worth. That includes displaying affection, being responsive to your child&rsquo;s needs, and encouraging them with the most effective kind of praise.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"7\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-7\">7<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-7\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"7\">Krauss, S., Orth, U., &amp; Robins, R. W. (2020). Family environment and self-esteem development: A longitudinal study from age 10 to 16. <em>Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 119<\/em>(2), 457&ndash;478. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/pspp0000263\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as it turns out, some types of praise can actually <em>hurt<\/em> your child&rsquo;s self-worth and self-esteem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"guidelines\">Which Compliments for Kids Will Nurture Self-Worth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below, I&rsquo;ll share a handy list of the best compliments for kids that work to boost their self-worth, but first, here are a few guidelines to help you come up the best compliments for your child:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Be sincere.<\/strong> Kids can see through over-the-top compliments and praise<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"8\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-8\">8<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-8\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"8\">Brummelman, E., Nelemans, S. A., Thomaes, S., &amp; Orobio de Castro, B. (2017). When Parents&rsquo; Praise Inflates, Children&rsquo;s Self-Esteem Deflates. Child development, 88(6), 1799&ndash;1809. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/cdev.12936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span>, and that kind of praise can hurt more than help.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"9\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-9\">9<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-9\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"9\">Henderlong, J., &amp; Lepper, M. R. (2002). The effects of praise on children&rsquo;s intrinsic motivation: A review and synthesis. <em>Psychological Bulletin<\/em>, 128(5), 774&ndash;795. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/0033-2909.128.5.774\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be specific.<\/strong> Imagine how it would feel to hear a loved one deliver a generic &ldquo;Good job!&rdquo; as opposed to something like this: &ldquo;Wow. You ran into a tough problem, and you worked through it. That took perseverance.&rdquo; When someone pays attention like that, you feel seen and understood. That kind of specific encouragement is way more powerful than generic compliments or phrases.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"10\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-10\">10<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-10\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"10\">Henderlong, J., &amp; Lepper, M. R. (2002). The effects of praise on children&rsquo;s intrinsic motivation: A review and synthesis. <em>Psychological Bulletin<\/em>, 128(5), 774&ndash;795. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/0033-2909.128.5.774\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> <sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"11\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-11\">11<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-11\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"11\">Robichaud, JM., Grenier, F., Joussemet, M., &amp; Mageau, G.A. (2022). The Role of Descriptive and Non-Specific Outcome-Oriented Praise in Child Self-Esteem: A Multiphase, Multimethod Investigation. <em>Journal of Child and Family Studies<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10826-022-02449-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Compliment your child&rsquo;s actions and choices.<\/strong> Praise your child for what they can control. Likewise, avoid praising your child&rsquo;s <em>abilities<\/em>. Phrases like &ldquo;You&rsquo;re so smart&rdquo; can undermine your child&rsquo;s motivation,<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"12\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-12\">12<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-12\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"12\">Xing, S., Gao, X., Jiang, Y., Archer, M., &amp; Liu, X. (2018). Effects of Ability and Effort Praise on Children&rsquo;s Failure Attribution, Self-Handicapping, and Performance. <em>Frontiers in psychology<\/em>, 9, 1883. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2018.01883\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> damage their self-esteem, and even foster narcissism.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"13\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-13\">13<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-13\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"13\">Brummelman, E., Nelemans, S. A., Thomaes, S., &amp; Orobio de Castro, B. (2017). When Parents&rsquo; Praise Inflates, Children&rsquo;s Self-Esteem Deflates. <em>Child development<\/em>, 88(6), 1799&ndash;1809. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/cdev.12936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> To learn more, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/secret-phrase-better-student\/\">Here&rsquo;s the Secret Phrase to Turn Your Kid Into an Amazing Student<\/a>. (Hint: It&rsquo;s <em>not<\/em> &ldquo;You&rsquo;re so smart.&rdquo;)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Less is more.<\/strong> You don&rsquo;t need to shower your child in compliments every time they do something&mdash;especially when it&rsquo;s something they enjoy doing. Too much praise can even decrease their motivation.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"14\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-14\">14<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-14\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"14\">Henderlong, J., &amp; Lepper, M. R. (2002). The effects of praise on children&rsquo;s intrinsic motivation: A review and synthesis. <em>Psychological Bulletin<\/em>, 128(5), 774&ndash;795. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/0033-2909.128.5.774\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> Also, if you tend to use the same compliments on a regular basis, those phrases can start to lose their oomph with your child. Try cutting back on those phrases for a bit and replace them with something new from the list below.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be careful with appearance.<\/strong> When a child believes most of their self-worth comes from their physical appearance, that can undermine the development of an authentic self-worth.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"15\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-15\">15<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-15\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"15\">Tang, Y., Brummelman, E., Novin, S., Assink, M., &amp; Thomaes, S. (2023). Children&rsquo;s domain-specific self-evaluations and global self-worth: A preregistered cross-cultural meta-analysis. <em>International Journal of Behavioral Development, 47<\/em>(6), 521-539. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/01650254231190926\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> In other words, they might believe that they are worth of respect, compassion, and love only if the people around them think they&rsquo;re &ldquo;cute&rdquo; or &ldquo;pretty&rdquo; or &ldquo;handsome.&rdquo; When a child views themselves as an object to be evaluated based on their appearance, that&rsquo;s called self-objectification, and it can lead to body image problems, eating disorders, and depression.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"16\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-16\">16<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-16\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"16\">Neves, C. M., Cipriani, F. M., Meireles, J. F. F., Morgado, F. F. D. R., &amp; Ferreira, M. E. C. (2017). Body Image in Childhood: An Integrative Literature Review. <em>Revista paulista de pediatria: orgao oficial da Sociedade de Pediatria de Sao Paulo, 35<\/em>(3), 331&ndash;339. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1590\/1984-0462\/;2017;35;3;00002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> <sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"17\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-17\">17<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-17\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"17\">Tiggemann, M. &amp; Slater, A. (2015). The Role of Self-Objectification in the Mental Health of Early Adolescent Girls: Predictors and Consequences. <em>Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 40<\/em>(7), 704&ndash;711. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jpepsy\/jsv021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> This can be a problem for girls and boys.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"18\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-18\">18<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-18\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"18\">Pecini, C., Di Bernardo, G.A., Crapolicchio, E., Vezzali, L., &amp; Andrighetto, L. (2023). Body Shame in 7&ndash;12-Year-Old Girls and Boys: The Role of Parental Attention to Children&rsquo;s Appearance. <em>Sex Roles, 89<\/em>, 82&ndash;95. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11199-023-01385-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> But our kids are cute, and it&rsquo;s fun to tell them that! And so to avoid these negative effects, first pay attention to how often you&rsquo;re complimenting your child&rsquo;s appearance. Then try to replace some of those less powerful compliments to something else on the list below. Ideally, experts recommend avoiding compliments about your child&rsquo;s physical appearance, especially their bodies.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"19\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-19\">19<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-19\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"19\">Hogenboom, M. (2022, August 22). <em>How your family shapes your body image.<\/em> BBC. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20220819-the-best-way-to-teach-kids-body-confidence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> <sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"20\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-20\">20<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-20\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"20\"><em>Majority of adolescents are self-conscious about their appearance, new poll suggests.<\/em> (2022, September 20). News Medical. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news-medical.net\/news\/20220920\/Majority-of-adolescents-are-self-conscious-about-their-appearance-new-poll-suggests.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> Instead, you can compliment something they can control, like the outfit they picked out or how they chose to style their hair. Above all, it&rsquo;s best to avoid making any comments about your child&rsquo;s weight or shape&mdash;positive or otherwise.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"21\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-21\">21<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-21\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"21\">Neumark-Sztainer, D., Bauer, K. W., Friend, S., Hannan, P. J., Story, M., &amp; Berge, J. M. (2010). Family weight talk and dieting: how much do they matter for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors in adolescent girls?. <em>The Journal of Adolescent Health: Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 47<\/em>(3), 270&ndash;276. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2010.02.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> <sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"22\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-22\">22<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-22\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"22\">Puhl, R. M. &amp; Himmelstein, M. S. (2018). Weight Bias Internalization Among Adolescents Seeking Weight Loss: Implications for Eating Behaviors and Parental Communication. <em>Frontiers in Psychology, 9<\/em>, 2271. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2018.02271\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"yellowbox\"><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> A handy trick for making sure you stick to specifics and compliment your child&rsquo;s actions is to start off with &ldquo;You&hellip;&rdquo; then complete the sentence by describing what your child did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/positive-words-for-kids\/\">How to Make Your Child Feel Absolutely Loved: 75 Positive Words for Kids<\/a> {Printable}<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Well Do Compliments Actually Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After the Purple Paint Incident, I circled back to my daughter for a follow-up conversation about what her inner critic had been telling her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it broke my heart to hear the phrases she&rsquo;d been repeating to herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Can you seriously not remember that?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>You&rsquo;re so clumsy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>What&rsquo;s wrong with you?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From then on, I made a conscious effort to compliment her every day&mdash;not on how she looks or something out of her control&mdash;but on something <em>she<\/em> made happen. If I was tucking her in at bedtime and couldn&rsquo;t remember complimenting her that day, I made a rule for myself to think of one specific, <strong>heartfelt<\/strong> compliment and share it with her then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I didn&rsquo;t know if that was enough to drown out her inner critic&rsquo;s voice, but I kept at it. Then one night at bedtime, I thought back through our day together and said, &ldquo;You had the magic touch with keeping your little brother entertained today. I&rsquo;m impressed.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She smiled and said, &ldquo;You always give me compliments, Mommy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I laughed. &ldquo;Is that&hellip;okay?&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She beamed. &ldquo;I love it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/cute-ways-to-say-i-love-you\/\">50 Cute Ways to Say &ldquo;I Love You&rdquo; to Your Child<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">110 Compliments for Kids to Boost Their Self-Worth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After that experience with my daughter, I set out to put together a list of the best 100 ways to compliment a child so that I could share it with the parents in this community. But I uncovered so many fun options that I kept the list going to 110.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These phrases work for a wide range of ages from young children to teenagers, but you know your child <strong>best<\/strong>, so choose the phrases you think will best lift up your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also get a <a class=\"modal-trigger\" href=\"#get-printable-compliments\">free printable list of the best compliments for kids here<\/a>. You can keep this list on your nightstand, tuck it in your purse or wallet, or leave it on the driver&rsquo;s seat of your car as a handy reminder for the moments when your child could use a pick-me-up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"yellowbox\"><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> If your child is feeling frustrated or discouraged, compliments typically won&rsquo;t help. In those situations, you need to first validate their struggle. Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/words-of-encouragement-for-kids\/\">The Most Encouraging Words for Kids: 125 Phrases That Actually Work<\/a> for the best phrases to use during or after their struggle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You give the <em>best<\/em> hugs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your room looks tidier! Did you spend some time cleaning up?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You ask such great questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The world is better with you in it. (This is one of my <em>favorite<\/em> compliments for kids, so it&rsquo;s featured on&nbsp;our <a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/love-bookmarks\/\">sweet I Love You Bookmarks<\/a>. Get the <a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/love-bookmarks\/\">whole set<\/a>&nbsp;so that every time your child reaches for one, they&rsquo;ll feel absolutely&nbsp;loved.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/love-bookmarks\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"466\" data-pin-id=\"128000814403825518\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/love-bookmarks-world-better-wide-700px.jpg\" alt=\"Hand these I Love You Bookmarks to your child and make them smile\" class=\"wp-image-24577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/love-bookmarks-world-better-wide-700px.jpg 700w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/love-bookmarks-world-better-wide-700px-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/love-bookmarks-world-better-wide-700px.jpg\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hand <a href=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/love-bookmarks\/\">these I Love You bookmarks<\/a> to your child and make them smile<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"5\">\n<li>I respect you and your opinions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&rsquo;ve been practicing hard for your game\/recital\/play\/language class. I can see\/hear the difference. (Or for younger kids: You&rsquo;ve been practicing hard tying your shoes\/riding your bike.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love your curious mind\/spirit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If I need a smile today, I&rsquo;m going to remember&hellip; (Finish with a funny or sweet thing your child said or did.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You make me smile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You got ready so fast this morning!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love hearing you read aloud to me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There&rsquo;s only one you in the world.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love your imagination!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I noticed you working hard on&hellip; (Finish with a specific example when you noticed your child pushing themselves to learn, grow, or finish something.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You make life fun.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love spending time with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your art\/writing always puts a smile on my face. Can you tell me more about how you made\/wrote this? (Alternative: What gave you the idea to create this? Or: How did you think to do that? Or: What&rsquo;s your favorite part?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&rsquo;re an important part of this family.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You worked hard on that. Do you feel proud of yourself? (Alternative: It looks like you feel proud. Or: I bet you feel proud.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You waited patiently for your turn. I know it&rsquo;s hard to wait.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sometimes if I&rsquo;m feeling sad, just thinking of you makes me feel better.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You really took your time on&hellip;to do it well. (Fill in with something that your child was focused on or worked hard on.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love how you put your outfit together! It looks so cheerful\/colorful\/sophisticated\/comfortable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I enjoy listening to your stories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I feel so lucky to be your mom\/dad.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your creativity amazes me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I could tell you were really focused when you&hellip; (Finish with something your child was focusing on, like making art, tying their shoes, riding their bike, and so on.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I&rsquo;m so grateful you&rsquo;re my daughter\/son.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want to try to do this by yourself, and that shows you&rsquo;re growing up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I&rsquo;m proud of the person you are.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love to hear\/see how passionate you are about&hellip; (Finish with whatever your child is passionate about and loves to talk about.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your creativity\/personality shines through in your artwork\/writing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love how you did your hair today.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love to watch you&hellip; (Then give an activity your child enjoys, like play soccer, get wrapped up in reading a book, make art, play your clarinet, and so on.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have the best laugh\/smile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Every morning, I look forward to getting to see you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You got your homework done right away. That must feel good to have that out of the way!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You make my heart feel full.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You tell the best jokes!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your art\/writing makes my heart happy. Thank you for sharing it with me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The jewelry\/belt\/socks\/shoes you picked out today are a nice touch. (Alternative: That [accessory] goes great with your outfit.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&rsquo;re one of a kind.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I could watch you&hellip;all day! (Fill in with an activity your child enjoys, like play soccer, dance, make art, play the piano, and so on.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love your sense of style.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seeing you smile makes me smile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Picking you up from school and hearing about your day is something I look forward to.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I&rsquo;m grateful that you&rsquo;re in my life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love your sense of humor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I can tell you really enjoy&hellip; (Finish with whatever your child loves to do.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&rsquo;re always so willing to try new things. That makes life with you extra fun.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love hearing your ideas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It&rsquo;s you I like. Every part of you. (Perfect for fans of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B004C4BOUK?&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=hyhf-compliments-kids-20&amp;linkId=aadecf94c86493c23f96ea387b69748c&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Mister Rogers<\/a>!)<sup>&dagger;<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"meta-desc\"><sup>&dagger;<\/sup> This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"53\">\n<li>I love walking into a room and seeing you engrossed in a book.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&rsquo;re always on the move. I love your energy!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I have fun when I&rsquo;m with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You inspire me to be a better person.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love getting to hear how you think through a problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You make a difference in my life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Just seeing your face makes me smile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are my favorite 5-year-old.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love your enthusiasm for&hellip; (Finish with whatever your child is passionate about.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You look really well put-together today.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love seeing the world through your eyes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are a precious treasure to me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love the colors you chose for your artwork.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are wonderful, just the way you are.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I admire your persistence in solving that problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love being around you, no matter what we&rsquo;re doing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One of my favorite times of every day is when we snuggle at bedtime.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love the way your mind works.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thank you for sharing your artwork\/writing with me. Can I put it up on the fridge? (Alternative: Can I put it in your portfolio? Side note: We love <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Itoya-Profolio-Inch-Presentation-Portfolio\/dp\/B00ED3SUA2?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=hyhf-compliments-kids-20&amp;linkId=326d72d0a4fd79c34be9d486b02bd1f4&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">these slim art portfolios<\/a> and get a new one every year for each kid to display their work.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love your laugh\/smile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I&rsquo;m a fan of you. (This one is inspired by our favorite pick for family movie night, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B004LWZW9W?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=hyhf-compliments-kids-20&amp;linkId=95544cb7ba7b1d083b6ffdbbb05b3fb2&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">We Bought a Zoo<\/a>.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love you just the way you are.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I&rsquo;m so grateful I got to spend today with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You light up my day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I feel blessed to have you in my life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You make me happy, just by being you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-compliments-for-kids-to-recognize-helpful-behavior\">Compliments for Kids to Recognize Helpful Behavior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These phrases can nurture your child to see themselves as the type of person who helps and encourage them to make helpful choices in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"yellowbox\"><strong>Quick tip: <\/strong>When you&rsquo;re trying to encourage helpful behavior, you&rsquo;ll make the most impact when you draw the connection to who your child is, like being a helper or being a kind person. Research shows that when you praise kids for <em>being<\/em> a helpful person rather than praising them just for helping, kids are much more likely to act generously in the future.<sup class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote \" data-mfn=\"23\" data-mfn-post-scope=\"0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618\"><a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" role=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-describedby=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-23\">23<\/a><\/sup><span id=\"mfn-content-0000000000000fca0000000000000000_27618-23\" role=\"tooltip\" class=\"modern-footnotes-footnote__note\" tabindex=\"0\" data-mfn=\"23\">Bryan, C.J., Master, A., &amp; Walton, G.M. (2014), &ldquo;Helping&rdquo; Versus &ldquo;Being a Helper&rdquo;: Invoking the Self to Increase Helping in Young Children. <em>Child Development<\/em>, 85(5), 1836-1842. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/cdev.12244\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/span> Here&rsquo;s why: Your words shape your child&rsquo;s self-image, and by seeing themselves as &ldquo;helpers&rdquo; for example, they&rsquo;ll be more likely to behave in a way that lives up to that self-image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" style=\"list-style-type:1\">\n<li>You had an opportunity to be a helper, and you stepped up to the plate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I appreciate when you&hellip; (Finish with a specific example of something your child does that&rsquo;s helpful or kind.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&rsquo;re always willing to help out when I ask. I really appreciate that.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You shared&hellip;with your sister\/brother\/friend. That was generous of you. (Fill in with whatever they shared, like a cookie, a toy, crayons, and so on.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When I was your age, I would have loved to have a friend like you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You hung up your backpack\/put away your shoes as soon as you got home. That helps our family have a comfy and tidy home. Thank you!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thank you for being a helper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your kindness warms my heart.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I saw when you&hellip; (Then give a specific example of your child doing something helpful or kind.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your sister\/brother\/friend needed help, and you chose to be a helper. How do you think they feel now?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When you&hellip;, that showed me you&rsquo;re a team player. (Fill in with a specific example of your child doing something collaborative.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I appreciate that you&rsquo;re such a helper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It feels good to be a helper, doesn&rsquo;t it?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That was a kind decision when you&hellip; (Then give a specific example of something your child did that was kind.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thank you for pitching in! How does it feel to be a helper?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I see you being a helper, and I appreciate it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That was a tough decision, and you made the choice to be a kind\/generous\/brave person.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That&rsquo;s what a thoughtful\/kind\/brave person does.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love seeing you be a helper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seeing you do that makes me smile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You&hellip; That shows you have a big heart. (Fill in with a specific example of something your child did that was kind.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That was a big task\/project, and you stuck to it until it was done. What a hard worker you are!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sometimes it&rsquo;s hard to make the kind\/generous\/brave choice, but you did it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You took a moment to think about your sister\/brother\/friend, and you made the choice to be a helper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You put yourself in their shoes to feel what they were feeling. That&rsquo;s called empathy, and being an empathetic person is so important.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Friends\/sisters\/brothers look out for each other, and that&rsquo;s exactly what you did.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I love seeing you work together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have a kind\/generous heart. You inspire me.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your choices matter, and you made the kind\/generous\/brave choice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When you cleaned up the toys\/loaded the dishwasher, that showed me that you&rsquo;re a helper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are an example to your friends\/siblings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your sister\/brother\/friend was upset, and you comforted them\/gave them a hug. You&rsquo;re such a caring sibling\/friend.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-get-your-free-cheat-sheet-110-compliments-for-kids\">Get Your Free Cheat Sheet: 110 Compliments for Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When your child could use a pick-me-up, use this cheat sheet of the most powerful compliments for kids to help boost their self-worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Get the free cheat sheet<\/strong>. Join my weekly-ish newsletter and as a bonus, you&rsquo;ll get the printable! Just <a class=\"modal-trigger\" href=\"#get-printable-compliments\">click here to get it and subscribe<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Print<\/strong>. Any paper will do the trick, but <a title=\"Neenah Exact Vellum Bristol\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B006P1Z59O\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=hyhf-encouraging-words-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B006P1Z59O&amp;linkId=e8360f3bc5a7d92c51301d9539cbb366\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">card stock<\/a> would be ideal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep your cheat sheet<\/strong> somewhere handy like in your nightstand or in your purse or wallet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Say a phrase to your child<\/strong>. Your loving words will help boost your child&rsquo;s self-worth, which is important to their mental health, happiness, and confidence. (Quick reminder: For the best experience, compliment your child&rsquo;s actions and be as specific as possible.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&rsquo;s a sneak peek of your printable cheat sheet:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a class=\"modal-trigger\" href=\"#get-printable-compliments\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"420\" data-pin-id=\"128000814403825518\" src=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-preview.png\" alt=\"Preview: 110 Compliments for Kids\" class=\"wp-image-27676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-preview.png 640w, https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-preview-300x197.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/happyyouhappyfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/compliments-for-kids-preview.png\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading after-entry-cta\" id=\"h-before-you-go-get-my-free-cheat-sheet-75-nbsp-positive-phrases-every-child-needs-to-hear\">Before you go, get my FREE cheat sheet: <a href=\"#get-printable-positive-words\" class=\"modal-trigger\">75&nbsp;Positive Phrases Every Child Needs to Hear<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n<style>#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-blocks-modal-link{color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);border-radius:0px;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-blocks-modal-link:hover, #kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-blocks-modal-link:focus{color:#f96d60;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay{background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-overlay{-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{width:100%;max-width:700px;-ms-flex-pack:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;text-align:left;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:10px;}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-left-radius:3px;border-top-right-radius:3px;border-bottom-right-radius:3px;border-bottom-left-radius:3px;border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg{width:24px;height:24px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{width:100%;border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg{width:24px;height:24px;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-container{width:100%;border-top:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-right:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-bottom:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);border-left:0px solid var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}#kt-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, #kt-target-modal19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg, .kb-modal-content19878_ef407f-13 .kt-modal-close svg{width:24px;height:24px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-modal aligncenter kt-modal-linkalign-center\" id=\"kt-modal19878_ef407f-13\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-your-turn\">Your Turn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What are your go-to compliments for kids? Share in a comment below!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"modern-footnotes-list modern-footnotes-list--hide-for-print\"><li><span>1<\/span><div>American Psychological Association. (2023, November 15). <em>APA Dictionary of Psychology: self-worth.<\/em> American Psychological Association. <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.apa.org\/self-worth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>2<\/span><div>Rende, R. (2023, November 14). <em>I&rsquo;m a Parent and a Psychologist: Here Are 5 Signs of Low Self-Worth in Kids.<\/em> Parents. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parents.com\/parenting\/better-parenting\/advice\/im-a-mom-and\/im-a-dad-and-a-psychologist-these-are-the-signs-of-low-self-worth-in-kids-and-how-to-help\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>3<\/span><div>Orth, U. &amp; Robins, R. W. (2014). The Development of Self-Esteem. <em>Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23<\/em>(5), 381-387. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0963721414547414\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>4<\/span><div>Reddy, B., Reddy, S., &amp; Reddy, S. R. (2020). Assessment of Self-Esteem and its Correlation with Happiness in Adolescents. <em>Indian Journal of Youth and Adolescent Health, 6<\/em>(2), 3-6. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.24321\/2349.2880.201907\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>5<\/span><div>Babore, A., Trumello, C., Candelori, C., Paciello, M., &amp; Cerniglia, L. (2016). Depressive Symptoms, Self-Esteem and Perceived Parent-Child Relationship in Early Adolescence. <em>Frontiers in Psychology, 7<\/em>, 982. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2016.00982\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>6<\/span><div>Marshall, S. L., Parker, P. D., Ciarrochi, J., &amp; Heaven, P. C. L. (2014). Is self-esteem a cause or consequence of social support? A 4-year longitudinal study. <em>Child Development, 85<\/em>(3), 1275&ndash;1291. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/cdev.12176\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>7<\/span><div>Krauss, S., Orth, U., &amp; Robins, R. W. (2020). Family environment and self-esteem development: A longitudinal study from age 10 to 16. <em>Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 119<\/em>(2), 457&ndash;478. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/pspp0000263\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>8<\/span><div>Brummelman, E., Nelemans, S. A., Thomaes, S., &amp; Orobio de Castro, B. (2017). When Parents&rsquo; Praise Inflates, Children&rsquo;s Self-Esteem Deflates. Child development, 88(6), 1799&ndash;1809. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/cdev.12936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>9<\/span><div>Henderlong, J., &amp; Lepper, M. R. (2002). The effects of praise on children&rsquo;s intrinsic motivation: A review and synthesis. <em>Psychological Bulletin<\/em>, 128(5), 774&ndash;795. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/0033-2909.128.5.774\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>10<\/span><div>Henderlong, J., &amp; Lepper, M. R. (2002). The effects of praise on children&rsquo;s intrinsic motivation: A review and synthesis. <em>Psychological Bulletin<\/em>, 128(5), 774&ndash;795. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/0033-2909.128.5.774\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>11<\/span><div>Robichaud, JM., Grenier, F., Joussemet, M., &amp; Mageau, G.A. (2022). The Role of Descriptive and Non-Specific Outcome-Oriented Praise in Child Self-Esteem: A Multiphase, Multimethod Investigation. <em>Journal of Child and Family Studies<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10826-022-02449-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>12<\/span><div>Xing, S., Gao, X., Jiang, Y., Archer, M., &amp; Liu, X. (2018). Effects of Ability and Effort Praise on Children&rsquo;s Failure Attribution, Self-Handicapping, and Performance. <em>Frontiers in psychology<\/em>, 9, 1883. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2018.01883\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>13<\/span><div>Brummelman, E., Nelemans, S. A., Thomaes, S., &amp; Orobio de Castro, B. (2017). When Parents&rsquo; Praise Inflates, Children&rsquo;s Self-Esteem Deflates. <em>Child development<\/em>, 88(6), 1799&ndash;1809. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/cdev.12936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>14<\/span><div>Henderlong, J., &amp; Lepper, M. R. (2002). The effects of praise on children&rsquo;s intrinsic motivation: A review and synthesis. <em>Psychological Bulletin<\/em>, 128(5), 774&ndash;795. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/0033-2909.128.5.774\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>15<\/span><div>Tang, Y., Brummelman, E., Novin, S., Assink, M., &amp; Thomaes, S. (2023). Children&rsquo;s domain-specific self-evaluations and global self-worth: A preregistered cross-cultural meta-analysis. <em>International Journal of Behavioral Development, 47<\/em>(6), 521-539. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/01650254231190926\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>16<\/span><div>Neves, C. M., Cipriani, F. M., Meireles, J. F. F., Morgado, F. F. D. R., &amp; Ferreira, M. E. C. (2017). Body Image in Childhood: An Integrative Literature Review. <em>Revista paulista de pediatria: orgao oficial da Sociedade de Pediatria de Sao Paulo, 35<\/em>(3), 331&ndash;339. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1590\/1984-0462\/;2017;35;3;00002\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>17<\/span><div>Tiggemann, M. &amp; Slater, A. (2015). The Role of Self-Objectification in the Mental Health of Early Adolescent Girls: Predictors and Consequences. <em>Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 40<\/em>(7), 704&ndash;711. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jpepsy\/jsv021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>18<\/span><div>Pecini, C., Di Bernardo, G.A., Crapolicchio, E., Vezzali, L., &amp; Andrighetto, L. (2023). Body Shame in 7&ndash;12-Year-Old Girls and Boys: The Role of Parental Attention to Children&rsquo;s Appearance. <em>Sex Roles, 89<\/em>, 82&ndash;95. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11199-023-01385-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>19<\/span><div>Hogenboom, M. (2022, August 22). <em>How your family shapes your body image.<\/em> BBC. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20220819-the-best-way-to-teach-kids-body-confidence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>20<\/span><div><em>Majority of adolescents are self-conscious about their appearance, new poll suggests.<\/em> (2022, September 20). News Medical. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news-medical.net\/news\/20220920\/Majority-of-adolescents-are-self-conscious-about-their-appearance-new-poll-suggests.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>21<\/span><div>Neumark-Sztainer, D., Bauer, K. W., Friend, S., Hannan, P. J., Story, M., &amp; Berge, J. M. (2010). Family weight talk and dieting: how much do they matter for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors in adolescent girls?. <em>The Journal of Adolescent Health: Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 47<\/em>(3), 270&ndash;276. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2010.02.001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>22<\/span><div>Puhl, R. M. &amp; Himmelstein, M. S. (2018). Weight Bias Internalization Among Adolescents Seeking Weight Loss: Implications for Eating Behaviors and Parental Communication. <em>Frontiers in Psychology, 9<\/em>, 2271. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2018.02271\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><span>23<\/span><div>Bryan, C.J., Master, A., &amp; Walton, G.M. (2014), &ldquo;Helping&rdquo; Versus &ldquo;Being a Helper&rdquo;: Invoking the Self to Increase Helping in Young Children. <em>Child Development<\/em>, 85(5), 1836-1842. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/cdev.12244\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i class=\"far fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Inside: Self-worth is important to your child&rsquo;s mental health and happiness, but some types of praise can actually hurt their self-worth. Here are the best compliments for kids to lift them up. One night while my four kids were in various stages of bathing, showering, or getting ready for bed, I took a sweep through&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27664,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4511],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-bonding"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.0 (Yoast SEO v25.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>110 Powerful Compliments for Kids to Boost Their Self-Worth<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Self-worth is important to your child&#039;s mental health and happiness. 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