Praise vs. Encouragement - Research Paper Example

Parents, for instance, should look forward to praise and encourage their children for the hard work they put into their studies even if their final grades do not reflect it. There are many ways, both obvious, and subtle, that can be used for praising and encouraging. The most prominent method for praising children is through communication. Apart from communication, little gestures, such as a gentle pat on the back, or expressions can also boost up a child’s self esteem and morale. (Loh) There is a great deal of debate between professionals as to the best way to build self-esteem and cause positive reinforcement.

Some experts say that praise is the best way, while others vouch towards encouragement. It is true that praise does uplift self esteem of a child but many experts believe that too much praising might actually result in a decreased level of self-worth. This is because by nature, praise injects competitiveness into a person and indirectly discourages cooperation. (Encouragement Is More Effective Than Praise in Guiding Childrens Behavior) For instance, consider a class in which two children, Andy and Bob, study.

Both the children have been asked to draw a picture of bird. Both, Andy and Bob, have been working really hard throughout the weekend to finish their drawings. When they finally reveal it to their teacher, he says, “Bob! I love your drawing! It’s the best!” Even though this praise would boost up Bob’s morale, it will shatter that of Andy’s as he now thinks that Bob is a better artist than him. This would be a great source of discouragement for Andy and will affect his interest and performance in class in future.

Therefore, what the teacher should have done is come up with a way by which Bob’s work could have been appreciated without hurting Andy’s feelings. This is where the importance of encouragement can be felt. Praise revolves around the judgments of elders, such as parents or