This is how to encourage your child

⏳ Time: 10 min

🤝 Who: parent(s)

🧺 Needed: nothing

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👋 Introduction
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Learning something new can be quite difficult, even going out of diapers. Your child will learn what you expect of him or her if you often say what is going well and if you encourage. In this way, it will grow confidence in itself as well as in you.

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From this step on, your child needs your encouragement extra often.

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📺 Watch the video or read the tips below.

🪄 How do I encourage my child?

Encouraging your child works best with these four tips:

💡 Tip 1. Practice is more important than whether it succeeds

Give compliments on trying and practicing, not just on the result.
Your child then feels safe to practice - even if he or she doesn't succeed yet.

❌ Don't say, "Another pee in the potty, good for you!"
✅ Rather, say, "How clever that you got back on the potty by yourself."

💡 Tip 2. Name your child's behavior

When you say "Handsome boy!" or "Good job!", your child often doesn't know why you're saying that.
Therefore, name the behavior that went well. This way your child will learn what you mean and what you would like to see again.

❌ Don't say, "Handsome boy!" or "You did that well!"
✅ Rather say, "How clever that you went to the bathroom by yourself."
✅ Or, "How good that you came to say you had to poop!"

💡 Tip 3. Say it right away when something goes well

Compliments work best in the moment.
Do you see your child practicing or doing something well? Then say so right away.
This way your child feels that you see it - and that gives pride and motivation.

❌ Don't say, "Did you wipe your bottom yourself this morning? Well done!"
✅ Do say, "I see you just wiped your bottom yourself, well done say!"

💡 Tip 4. Give a hug or high five

Physical contact reinforces the feeling of doing things together.
After a compliment, you can give a hug, punch or high five.
This makes your child feel extra big and proud.

✅ For example, say, "Well done! High five!"

💡 Tip 5. Good to know

By positively encouraging, you help your child to persevere, even when things don't work out for a while.
In this way, self-confidence grows, and practice gets better and better.

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