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Giving praise

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