Positive Reinforcement: How to Use it to Motivate your Kids
Featured on Care: Using Positive Reinforcement to Motivate Kids
In this feature, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Reesa Morala, LMFT, joins other parenting experts to share how positive reinforcement can encourage kids to build healthier habits, improve behavior, and strengthen family connection.
Reesa reminds parents that children are wired to respond to encouragement more than criticism. Positive reinforcement, when used intentionally, helps kids feel valued and motivated—not just to “do what they’re told,” but to internalize self-confidence and resilience.
Why Positive Reinforcement Matters
Parenting often feels like a balance between guiding, teaching, and correcting. While discipline has its place, research shows that kids thrive when their efforts are noticed and celebrated. Positive reinforcement helps children:
Develop intrinsic motivation instead of relying on fear or shame.
Strengthen their self-esteem by recognizing progress, not just outcomes.
Build trust with parents, knowing that communication will be supportive and encouraging.
Reesa’s Core Insights
In the article, Reesa highlights that effective positive reinforcement goes beyond “good job.” Instead, it’s about being specific and consistent:
Praise effort, not just results → Notice the hard work, persistence, or creativity, even if the outcome isn’t perfect.
Stay consistent → Kids respond best when reinforcement is predictable, not occasional.
Keep it authentic → Children know when praise is genuine. Focus on what truly matters, not empty flattery.
Pair reinforcement with connection → A hug, eye contact, or shared smile can mean more than material rewards.
Her message is clear: when kids feel seen and encouraged, they grow into more confident and self-aware individuals.
Key Takeaways for Parents
Positive reinforcement motivates kids more effectively than punishment.
Specific, consistent, and authentic praise builds resilience.
Encouragement fosters trust, emotional safety, and long-term confidence.
Parents can model the values they want to see by celebrating growth, not perfection.
If this feature resonated with you, Reesa offers parenting therapy, classes, and intensives to help parents create homes where encouragement and connection flourish.
If you’re in Murrieta, CA or anywhere across California, learn more about Reesa’s parenting therapy intensives and parenting classes for more support.
