The following excerpt comes from Dr. Michelle Borba and is one of seven parenting tips to help with school success. Thank you to one of our staff members for sharing this (this is one of seven posts on this topic).
Applaud Efforts the Right Way
Carol Dweck’s research at Columbia University found that how we praise our kids’ schoolwork can enhance or impede achievement. For example, instead of encouraging your child to bring home straight A’s, put the emphasis on how hard she is working. This will encourage her to persist and it will help to sustain her motivation.
Kids who are praised for their persistence are more likely to blame any failure they have on not trying hard enough, rather than on a lack of ability (a belief which can discourage kids very easily).
Above all, keep in mind that the grade is not what motivates a top student to succeed-it’s their inner drive for learning.
