Helpful hints for giving praise:

• make the praise relevant to the behaviour
• praise immediately
• give specific praise to help the child understand his/her behaviour - 'good listening Charlie'
• give specific praise without sanctions or sarcasm
• praise with smiles, eye contact and enthusiasm and gestures, as well as with words
• catch a child when they are behaving well, don't save praise for perfect behaviour
• use praise in front of the other children 'John is sitting really nicely', as long as this will not embarrass the child
• reward a child with a treat for behaving well, such as choosing an activity or story they really enjoy
• do not offer a child a treat in the form of a bribe to stop them behaving badly.

Helpful hints for giving praise