Prizeworthy

Learn how skillfully prizing your kids (rather than mindlessly praising) can be a game changer in your relationship as a parent or teacher.

Our culture is addicted to "good job!"--our all-purpose, feel-good, non-specific verbal praise--especially when we talk to our kids. However, research shows that generic praise is insufficient and sometimes even backfires in our relationships with children; it often signals a reinforcement of unstated behavioral expectations. By contrast, prizing is a gift offered from clear-seeing and compassionate presence, with its only agenda being connection to and empowerment of the child. Prizing--rather than common praising--can be life-changing.

In Prizeworthy, psychotherapist Mitch Abblett introduces us to the skills of prizing, and shows us what it looks like in real-life situations. For example, techniques like "SNAPPing Out of Delusions of Outcome Control with Your Children" or "Light-Touch Goal-Tending with Your Kids" add an important layer of validation and compassionate presence to your response. Abblett also shares stories of how prizing has made a real difference in the lives of young people, and offers practices for cultivating it at home, and in educational and therapeutic settings.

The tools and skills of mindfulness can teach us much about and enhance the quality of our interpersonal communication, and by taking mindfulness one step further, we have the opportunity to bring real connection and support to others.