Praise vs. Flattery
Child rearing advice is ever-changing.
The latest thinking, according to New York Magazine is that it’s much better to praise kids for their efforts, and not so good to praise them for their intelligence.
Praising a child’s IQ sends the message that no effort is required, whereas praising effort itself rewards persistence.
This sounds plausible & might even be true…but who knows for sure? It would take decades of massive-cohort double-blind studies to confirm the author’s assertions.
How Not to Talk to Your Kids - New York Magazine, February 19 2007