Praise as an Incentive.
By Christian at Work
Judicious praise is an incentive to effort. Praise your children if they deserve it, and don't be afraid it will make them conceited; merited compliments serve rather to make persons satisfied with themselves and agreeable, than vain and overbearing. If your child is pretty, and not naturally of a vain temperament, it will do no harm to let her know you think so. Many a girl has been made timid and self-distrustful for life, because her parents thought it their duty to convince her that she was plain and unattractive. As a rule, those who have the greatest gifts and talents are not the ones who are best satisfied with themselves. They absolutely need encouragement from their inferiors, to buoy them up. A well-timed compliment does them good. It makes sensitive people wretched to have their defects pointed out and commented on, with no allusion to their redeeming virtues. As for men, they never make an effort they think will end in a failure; make a man think he can do what he undertakes, and he exerts all his powers, and will come off victorious in spite of many obstacles, and in face of all discouragements. If blame is needed, don't restrain it; but if you can conscientiously praise a well-meaning effort, do it. There is no knowing what good you will accomplish.—Christian at Work.