Resources for Parents and Guardians

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The Language of Encouragement

There is a real difference between praising a child and encouraging one, and it is easy to miss. Praise delivers a verdict — good girl, beautiful work — and, repeated often enough, teaches a child to look to a grown-up to find out whether what she made was worth making. Encouragement does the opposite. It describes what actually happened, trusts the child to keep going, and leaves the judging to the person who did the work.

This guide, adapted by our founder Patricia Lacoste, collects the phrases our teachers use in the classroom every day, grouped by what they are for: noticing effort, showing confidence, and handing the judgment back to the child. It also lists four small swaps for the phrases most of us reach for without thinking. Click the image to download the guide.

Birthday Snacks

The Separation Anxiety Reset