Label Me Merrit

I’m starting to get things planned and together for Stella’s Easter basket and wanted to share an awesome company with you. In addition to making these adorable hand knit friends, uses their profits to do some serious good in the world!
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Each of these stuffed cuties provides 10 meals to children who need it! What am amazing way to make a positive impact while filling our littles' Easter baskets this year!
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Stella has friends Daisy and Stella, and absolutely loves them. They have held up incredibly well to her playing and loving on them, and they honestly still look brand new!
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They also have some sweet little mini bunny and duckling stuffies launching specifically in time for Easter, which would make a perfect little Easter basket stuffer, and they provide 5 meals to children in need. So you can do some good whatever your budget is🥰
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I'd love to hear what else you're excited to include in your littles' Easter baskets this year! I'm really trying to be ahead of the game so I'm not scrambling last minute😆

How many times a day do you tell your little "good boy/girl!" Did you know that this simple phrase can actually be harmful?

That sounds ridiculous right? How could praising your child ever be bad, especially as a gentle parent?

This is because praising your child as a "good kid" whenever they do something you like, is actually setting them up to expect external validation whenever they complete a task.

Instead of being motivated by their intrinsic desire to do good, accomplish a task or improve a skill, they are being programmed to only work towards that external praise.

Some parenting experts also believe that the constant stream of "good girl/boy" can lead a child to believe they are *only* good when they are being praised.

So what do you say instead? I personally love using "thank you" with my daughter. In fact, this is probably one of my most used phrases as a parent.

This gives me the opportunity to thank her for the specific behavior she did that I'd like to foster in her.

"Thank you for cleaning up your mess"
"Thank you for using gentle hands"
"Thank you for being so patient"

It also emphasized that *she* did something that had a positive effect, and that was noticed. There is nothing like seeing the pride puff into your little toddler when you genuinely thank them for something they did.

This builds up that intrinsic motivation that means your child is doing desired behaviors simply because their internal self wanted to. And isn't that what raising a good human is all about?

A few other of my favorite alternatives to "good boy/girl"

"You must be so proud of yourself!"
"I see that you looked both ways before crossing the street"
"It is so helpful when you unload the dishwasher with me"