So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Think about this; wise encouragement is better than lavish praise. Children need encouragement.

I got to thinking about a time years back that I tried my hand at planting some flowers. They were beautiful, but after a little while they started to wilt. So, I went and got the hose and sprinkled them. When I woke up the next morning, they were beautiful again. Children need encouragement like plants need water. They need it repeatedly. You need to catch them doing something right and let them know through your encouragement that you believe in them. Let your speech affirm them.

What is the difference between encouragement and praise? Praise tells a child, “I get approval when I do good. If I will do good, then they will approve of me. When my performance is good, the approval rate goes up. When my performance is bad, then my acceptance goes down, and my self-image goes down with it.” Praise says, “You are great because you did something.” There’s nothing wrong with praise, but I’m saying that encouragement is twice as strong as praise. Encouragement looks at a child and values that child(no matter what the age is), not primarily for what the child can do, but for who the child is. Encouragement says, “You can do it. Thank you. I’m so grateful for you.”