Alfie Kohn wrote a useful article, “Five Reasons to Stop Saying ‘Good Job!’” in which he points out that: • Praise can actually be used to manipulate children when we use it as a bargaining tool to motivate them. • It can create praise junkies. • Praise can actually take the joy away, with children looking to us for reassurance rather than experiencing delight at what they have achieved. • Children can become less motivated when they do something for praise, because it removes the meaning for themselves. • Praise can lower achievement—when an activity is tied to the pressure to perform, the
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