Praise is one of humanity’s deepest cravings.  It satisfies our need for acceptance.  It can give us meaning in our lives and it can help to build our identities.  It’s easy to see why parents dole it out thickly to their children. However, when used improperly, the compliments can harm the very people we are trying to encourage. In fact, Dweck’s experiments showed that, sadly, the brightest girls collapsed the most.

Here's how to avoid the pitfalls of praise and, instead, motivate your child to excel!