Why and How to Praise Your Child for Brushing Their Teeth

Praise is powerful! When it is used as a training tool for kids, it can improve their self-confidence and encourage the development of good qualities and habits. The influence of praise even reaches into children’s oral health. In this blog post, you will discover helpful information on why and how you should praise your little one for brushing their teeth.
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Why Is Praise So Important?A study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania had the goal of determining how parental praise influenced children’s persistence in brushing their teeth. The participants in the study came from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and income levels.

One of the researchers stated, “Our work is the first to show that fluctuations in parent praise relate to fluctuations in child persistence.” Of significance is the fact that the study found that children showed more persistence in brushing when they received more praise about their efforts and fewer concrete instructions on how to brush. Most of the praise consisted of parents saying things like “very good,” “nice job,” or other phrases along those same lines.
How to Praise Your Child for Brushing Their TeethHere are a few tips to help you deliver effective praise to your child:

• Be sincere. Admittedly, your child may have room for improvement in the way they brush their teeth, but you can likely find something about their efforts that genuinely deserves commendation. Kids tend to be good at sensing over-praise and insincere praise, and they usually react negatively to it.

• Be consistent. Praise children frequently; continual reinforcement is a good thing! However, you should avoid overdoing it. Too much praise may cause your words to lose their value and impact.
• Avoid comparisons. Comparing your child to others can shift their focus from self-improvement to competing with their siblings or peers.
• Praise effort and process. Notice and praise small improvements in your child’s habits, such as their attempts to be thorough or their eagerness to brush their teeth every night.
• Consult your child’s dentist. Dentists have experience with kids and can offer useful tips for promoting good habits.

Keep Working to Develop Good Habits in Your ChildMost kids do not enjoy brushing their teeth. However, similar to exercise and household chores, your child may eventually recognize the value of what you are teaching them. Do not give up on your efforts to help your little one develop good habits that will last a lifetime!

Meet the Practice
Dr. Adrienne Archidiacono-Jeanis, affectionately known as Dr. Adrienne, loves to serve families in the Aledo area. As an accomplished pediatric dentist, she is eager to work with kids of all ages and personality types. If you would like her advice on how you can encourage good habits in your child, contact our office at 817-406-2025.
 

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