Praising Boys Well

Book excerpt: Boys need encouragement and praise to develop healthy self esteem, but they can also feel swamped and suffocated by what they see as constant commentary on their every move-and as a result they can be inclined to act out. How can parents strike the right balance between giving effective praise and not going overboard? How can we help our boys to feel proud without inspiring a false sense of confidence or making them praise dependent? Praising Boys Well shows parents and teachers alike what boys need to hear along the developmental continuum and offers countless tips on what to encourage; which phrases to use-and to avoid; when incentives are appropriate; and how to incorporate praise into our boys' everyday activities.