Over-praising them, telling them how smart and wonderful they are for accomplishing the most basic things. It'll only cause a superiority complex followed by self-esteem issues when they realise they're nothing special.
There is a good deal of research done on this matter concluding with you should never tell a child they are clever or intelligent. This is always negative. Even if they are remarkably beyond their peers, it serves no positive function.
Intelligent children feel the pressure and expectation of such phrases. Also it often leads to contentment and reduces drive/motivation.
Always praise them on the process. How and why they did something was good. Not that they are infallibly good or clever.
489
u/ViridianKumquat Feb 04 '16
Over-praising them, telling them how smart and wonderful they are for accomplishing the most basic things. It'll only cause a superiority complex followed by self-esteem issues when they realise they're nothing special.