Starting a new year with the goal to spread positivity and kindness is amazing. On January 24th, the US celebrates National Compliment Day. For kids, any day is the perfect opportunity to hear or share a compliment. They can boost confidence, increase motivation, and help them develop a love of learning.
While hearing a sincere compliment is wonderful, giving them to other people is just as important. At the start of the new year, help your kids develop and explore new levels of confidence.
What Are Quality Compliments?
Compliments that make a difference follow some basic rules. They’re always honest and sincere. They focus on things the person chooses instead of just what they are or things that happy because of luck. Also, it’s a great idea to say good things about how hard the person worked, their effort, and persistence instead of results only.
So, “You did such a great job working together on this project” is a wonderful compliment, as is “You’re really improving so much. That’s wonderful!” These reinforce the qualities that keep them motivated and inspired.
They don’t need to master a new skill or achieve some great reward. Whether it’s working hard on a new trick on their Nattork inline skates or getting all their math homework done without complaining, it’s worth a good word.
How to Encourage Kids to Compliment Others
Ask your children how they feel when they get a compliment from someone else. Not only does this reinforce the good emotions, but it promotes healthy empathy as well. Then, ask them how they think other people feel when they get compliments too.
Who should you compliment? Anyone! While maintaining safety around strangers, of course, teach your kids to say something kind to family, friends, classmates, workers, and other people around them.
What should they say? Keep it short, honest, and pertinent to what’s happening at the moment. Don’t run across the park to tell someone they have great shoes. Instead, they can tell their new playground buddy that hanging out together is so much fun. Or they can tell the classmate who helped them with their lesson that they’re amazing at figuring tough things out.
How can you encourage your children? Compliment them. Also, compliment others around them. Make it a habit and an obvious and positive way you interact with the world around you. Thank servers at restaurants and retail check-out workers. Let others know how much you appreciate their assistance. Take a moment to say, ‘I really like your hat’ or ‘That color is perfect on you’ when you see people you know. Compliments are catching. Positivity can spread.
Psychological Health Benefits of Compliments
It’s not a surprise that receiving a compliment can help someone feel better. It boosts confidence and self-esteem. Positive feedback actually encourages effort and working hard on challenging things. It makes kids more resilient. When kids have goals and then rise to achieve them, you can tell their psychological health improves.
This year on National Compliment Day, start a new tradition of noticing and saying good things about the efforts and accomplishments of everyone around you. Teach kids not only what quality compliments mean, but also how important they are to give to others.
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