WHILE modern parenting styles and new child behavior management methods have been developed, it is important to remember that every child is unique and so every family also has their own set of ways for child-rearing. What might work for one, might not work for another.

Nevertheless, one of the most popular styles these days that modern parents rely on is positive reinforcement. It has become one of the most advocated forms of establishing discipline in children.

Many believe that acknowledging a child’s good behavior might work better even if it seems counterproductive at the beginning.

Berkeley Well-Being Institute describes positive reinforcement as “the method of increasing the future occurrence of some response or behavior by following that behavior with an enjoyable consequence.”

To put it plainly, recognizing and rewarding children’s good behavior can eventually promote the recurrence of that behavior in the future.

But why positive reinforcement? The way parents discipline their children can affect their long-term behavior. While it is critical that children should be disciplined, this does not imply that harsh verbal and physical punishments should be used. Positive reinforcement has the potential to provide longer-term benefits, which include a significant improvement in the bond between parent and child.

Additionally, according to Young Scholars Academy, positive reinforcement can also help develop children’s personalities.

Children are innately smart. They know that good behavior can lead to favorable consequences like rewards or even simple recognition. As they continue doing good and getting praised for it, the value of self-discipline and responsibility gets instilled in them.

Children prompted by apprehension, on the contrary, may only conform with minimal effort — they only do the bare minimum to avoid punishment.

When parents recognize their children’s positive behavior, they make them more confident and feel great about themselves. Their words of affirmation will surely set up their children for future accomplishments and successes. Rather than making them feel bad and focusing on what they did wrong, positive reinforcement can make them realize that they are innately good, and they can do great things.

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