Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility

by Foster W. Cline

Praise Encouragement Location Good feelings from the outside Builds good feelings from the inside Technique Statements Questions Assumes Child and adult have good relationships No assumptions about relationships Content Judgmental Nonjudgmental Results when child has a good self-image and likes the adult Feels good about job and adult Feels more competent in making decisions Feels good about self Results when child’s self-image is poor Discounts with: “He’s just trying to make me feel better. He doesn’t really know me.” Acts out negative behavior to prove how bad he really is Feelings toward adult unchanged May be better able to self-evaluate In no case does behavior worsen if asked nonjudgmental questions Examples “What a great job!” “You did so well!” “I bet you feel proud of yourself!” “How do you think you did?”