Scott and Chad sit down and discuss why complimenting your children is a great way to build their self-esteem and confidence, and give you a list of 17 compliments that you can use as a parent to completely make their day.

Chad’s brother-in-law is a pediatrician and he saw that kids suffered greatly during the past two years of the pandemic. Children were lonely and scared, and were self-harming at alarming rates all over the world.
Our kids need to be lifted up and strengthened, more so now than ever.
Consider saying one of the following compliments every single day for the next three months.
#1 You make me proud.
- Every child wants to know their parents are proud of them. Take 30 seconds and find something you are proud of and let them know.
#2 I’ve noticed how hard you’ve been trying.
- This reinforces the effort and shows you appreciate the act, not just the end result.
#3 You inspire me.
- This uplifts kids in a way that’s hard to describe and builds instant connection.
#4 I can trust you because you’re honest.
- Children want their parents to trust them and will consider that when they have a decision to make. Valuing trust and integrity can be done with a simple compliment.
#5 You are a great role model.
- Kids want to be a role model for others in things they care about. They want to know they are leading the people behind them.
#6 You make me want to be the best person I can be.
- This tells you kids that they matter. That they are the reason you want to be better.
#7 You amaze me.
- Kids want to impress the people they care about. Show them that you notice how awesome they are.
#8 Your effort hasn’t gone unnoticed and I appreciate it.
- Reward progress, not perfection. If you reward effort and progress you help them create momentum.
#9 Thank you for teaching me something new.
- There are always new things you can learn from your kids. Tell them that when they show you something you didn’t know.
#10 I’m lucky to have such a kind child.
- This reinforces the value of kindness that every kid can benefit from having.
#11 You’ve got so many great ideas.
- Your kids are a font of creation. Tell them that you love that about them and encourage their creativity. Whatever you focus on you get more of.
#12 You make people around you smile.
- Kids are a great joy if you look for it.
#13 You’re not afraid to dream big.
- We should be encouraging our children’s dreams and ambitions.
#14 Your willingness to try is admirable.
- If you encourage their willingness to try, they will put in the effort to try new things more often.
#15 You bring so much joy to our family.
- Kids have a memory bank that you need to build. The fastest way to remove mental health issues like anxiety, fear, and depression is using compliments like this.
#16 You glow when you smile.
- Smiling has a physiological effect. Reinforcing the act of smiling makes it more of a habit.
#17 I really admire the person you have become.
- This acknowledges their growth and that they are a good person as they are.
Children need parents that build them up and a lot of that has to do with the language we use. Compliments are free so take 21 days and turn complimenting your kids into a habit.

Mentioned in This Episode:

gravystack.com/smart

smartmoneyparenting.com

Smart, Not Spoiled: The 7 Money Skills Kids Must Master Before Leaving the Nest by Chad Willardson

Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell and Lee Benson

Scott Donnell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnell-scott

Chad Willardson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwillardson

Scott Donnell on Instagram - @imscottdonnell

Chad Willardson on Instagram - @chad.willardson

Scott Donnell on TikTok - @imscottdonnell

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