After struggling with bedtime and boundary-pushing, an associate professor of literacy turned to a technique called behavior-specific praise. This method, which involves explicitly praising positive behaviors, has reshaped how his family handles their toddler's strong emotions and tantrums.
Modern parenting advice often cautions against excessive praise, but the author challenges that notion. He argues that explicitly acknowledging good conduct can be an effective tool for improving a child's behavior, despite the challenges of remaining consistent.
The author describes how his family's struggle with their son's behavior was alleviated by this researched approach. While the technique can be hard to maintain, he reports that it is paying off by improving daily dynamics.
The technique is grounded in the author's academic work studying self-regulation and executive function. He suggests that targeted, specific praise helps toddlers navigate their developing independence and language skills more smoothly.
Critics might argue that over-praising could make children dependent on external validation. Still, the author maintains that for his family, the concrete, positive results have outweighed those theoretical concerns.