Children need praise. It motivates them, provides security, and strengthens self-confidence. But, as with many things, the right dosage makes all the difference.
In everyday teaching, I often see this: A child makes a mistake – and is still showered with “Great!”, “Well done!”, or “That was fantastic!” Of course, it is important to be encouraging and friendly. But when praise is no longer honest or understandable, it loses its value.
🎯 Why excessive praise is problematic
When children constantly hear that they are “doing everything perfectly,” even when the result is objectively not correct, an imbalance arises:
They stop believing the praise. Or worse: They eventually stop paying attention altogether.
A “Well done!” then becomes just an empty phrase – not genuine feedback.
Children can sense very precisely whether we mean it. They trust us. And that’s exactly why it’s so important to remain honest and credible.
🌀 Between praise, routine, and security: the role of stickers
In my lessons, stickers play a special role – not as a pure reward system, but as part of a loving, reliable routine.
At the beginning of the school year, each child receives a notebook for homework – with a choice of colors. Over the weeks, they collect their very own stickers – not for “achievement,” but for participation, courage, showing up, and doing homework – regardless of whether everything is correct or not.
👉 This notebook grows – visibly, colorfully, and completely individually on the first page, and its thickness also increases with every homework assignment.
👉 The stickers themselves have clear colors, familiar objects, or even relate to our topics – e.g., weather, animals, or body parts – and they support vocabulary learning almost automatically.
👉 The ritual gives children orientation and security: they know what’s coming and look forward to it.
Stickers don’t replace genuine praise – but they lovingly reinforce the message:
"I saw that you were here today, that you participated, that you dared to try."
🤲 Encouraging without sugarcoating
This doesn’t mean we should criticize or discourage children when they make mistakes. On the contrary:
A sentence like
👉 “That was hard – but you dared to try!”
or
👉 “Look, you got the first part right – the second part just needs a little more practice.”
is often much more effective than a general “Well done” that doesn’t address the situation.
We can and should praise effort – not just the result.
💡 How to praise authentically:
✔️ Be specific: “You really tried hard to pronounce the words clearly!”
✔️ Praise the effort: “You dared to try, even if you weren’t sure – that was brave.”
✔️ Show genuine interest: “How did you do that? Tell me!”
✔️ Use praise as a conversation starter: “How did that feel for you?”
✔️ Balance praise and correction: “The beginning was great; let’s look at the ending together.”
✔️ Use recurring, loving symbols: stickers, stamps, or mini-rituals give children structure – and make learning achievements visible without creating pressure.
🌱 Conclusion
Children need us as honest companions. When we praise them, it should be with heart and mind – not automatically for every little thing.
Rituals like stickers and personal collection books can help stay appreciative while remaining genuine.
Because genuine praise only works if it’s meant genuinely.
And children notice immediately when we really mean it.
