Stopping to Celebrate Family Progress

Don’t forget to celebrate positive progress when you spot it. It’s great when you see positive improvements in your family life.

Perhaps you’ve noticed your child seems happier or calmer; maybe you’re proud that they’ve overcome a particular struggle.

It’s important to celebrate these changes and explore the reasons why they might have happened.

1: Celebrating success

Sometimes, we get hung up on the big changes we want to achieve, and don’t notice the little steps of progress our children are making.

Spotting and celebrating these small stages of progress is a great way to boost your child’s confidence and encourage them to keep going.

If you notice a small positive change, tell your child about what you’ve seen. Praise them specifically, so they know what it is you’re pleased to see. Even teenagers like to hear when they’ve done something well.

For example:

• Instead of using, “Well done”, you could say, “I like the way you’re planning your exam revision timetable”
• “Good work” becomes, “I’m noticing you’re trying hard with keeping your room clean.”

Avoid adding on the things they still need to improve or doubting that these positive changes will last.

Stay focused on what they’re doing well and shift your attention to the great things they’re doing rather than problems.