Be Sure to Encourage Your Homeschool Student

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Don't forget to encourage your homeschooler this week!

I struggle in this area. I have to continually remind myself to seek out moments to praise my boys. It's so easy to get in the habit of:

That's not correct.

Wipe your mouth.

Ask to be excused from the table.

We went over this yesterday.

What do you mean you can't find your book? You should have put it away.

As the educators of our children, we are in a unique position that calls for us to point out what's "wrong" more than the average parent of a public schooler. And not just because we spend so much time with our children.

We are (thankfully) wholly responsible for their academics, character and manners. There are concepts to teach and papers to grade, burps to raise eyebrows at and virtues to instill.

Correction is part of the package - but if it's done with love and with a large counterbalance of praise, it does not need to have negative effects. I try to use the ratio of 3:1. For every correction or every time I need to point out something wrong, I give three compliments or positive actions.

Be generous with your praise. Tell them good job, way to go, good thinking, you're smart! Give them hugs, rustle their hair or clap for them! Make them a special snack, give them a hand with a chore or take a few moments to play a board game.

Make sure there is positivity in your day.

There are so many ways to show our kids they are precious and appreciated. What is your child's favorite form of praise?