Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting Quotes

“KEY CONCEPT Descriptive Praise improves behavior The concept of Descriptive Praise is easy to grasp: 1. Notice a little thing that your child is doing that is right—or even the smallest step in the right direction! 2. Tell your child exactly what you notice. Describe the behavior in detail. 3. Leave out the over-the-top superlatives.”
― Noel Janis-Norton, Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting: Five Strategies That End the Daily Battles and Get Kids to Listen the First Time

“Because Descriptive Praise is so specific, it cannot be argued with; it is a fact. You’re not making sweeping, exaggerated statements that can easily be disputed or discounted. Instead, you are describing, very specifically and in detail, what your child is doing that pleased you. Maybe he did the right thing, or maybe it was just barely okay, but it was an improvement on what he might have done. You can even notice and mention when your child is not doing anything wrong.”
― Noel Janis-Norton, Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting: Five Strategies That End the Daily Battles and Get Kids to Listen the First Time

“If your child is eating his dinner without a fuss, just describe exactly what you like about his behavior. “You’re eating your dinner without complaining about the food.” Or you could say, “You tasted the peas; that was brave,” or, “Even though your potatoes are touching your lentils, you didn’t say ‘Yuck.’” This is an effective way of communicating your values to your child, such as appreciating the meal instead of complaining, trying what’s on his plate even if he thinks he won’t like it, and being flexible about foods touching each other on his plate.”
― Noel Janis-Norton, Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting: Five Strategies That End the Daily Battles and Get Kids to Listen the First Time

“KEY CONCEPT Superlative Praise = vague, exaggerated, and ineffective Wow, your homework is fantastic! Descriptive Praise = specific, true, and motivating You answered all the questions on this worksheet, even though you weren’t sure about some of the answers. You didn’t leave any blanks. You challenged yourself and wrote down something for every single question.”
― Noel Janis-Norton, Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting: Five Strategies That End the Daily Battles and Get Kids to Listen the First Time

“Descriptive Praise is about noticing and commenting on exactly what your child has done that is right or just okay, or even what he hasn’t done wrong.”
― Noel Janis-Norton, Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting: Five Strategies That End the Daily Battles and Get Kids to Listen the First Time

“What is effective for increasing motivation and the willingness to take on challenges is focusing praise on the child’s effort, on what the child has done, not on an ability he can’t control (such as intelligence) or on the final result (which he may not easily be able to replicate).”
― Noel Janis-Norton, Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting: Five Strategies That End the Daily Battles and Get Kids to Listen the First Time

“When we continue to do things for our children that they could do for themselves, we are unintentionally robbing them of opportunities to become self-reliant and confident. Doing for our children what they can do for themselves also sends them a negative message either that we think they can’t do it, or that they don’t have to do it.”
― Noel Janis-Norton, Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting: Five Strategies That End the Daily Battles and Get Kids to Listen the First Time