Today’s edition is brought to you by us! - The newsletter that gives you great resources for free. Spread the news!

I'm working with my student the other day. It shocks me every time when I say a couple of phrases. I say these phrases, and he lights up. I see a confused face; it's like I said something different. I guess he just wasn't expecting it, and sometimes he even doubted and questioned me.

If you're wondering about one of these phrases, a simple one is just saying 'I'm proud of you.' I'm learning that showing appreciation can make a world of difference.The kid's face lights up whenever we celebrate them, like when we sing 'Happy Birthday' or congratulate them on getting a good grade. We thank them for everything, even for the test, as if they just helped us.

Think about the last time you received a compliment. Did it make you frown? I think not. It probably brought a big smile to your face, even if you wanted to hide it. I'm learning that even when something is true and you know it, people still need a reminder of how well they're doing or how proud you are of them. We can all agree that we love compliments.

Do you also remember a time when it seemed like no one noticed or acknowledged you? Perhaps no one gave you a compliment, and you felt like no one appreciated you. Then, out of the blue, someone finally noticed you, said something, and it changed your whole day, maybe even your entire week or month. Now, we're on the same page about where this article is going. First, let's check out the people we love below, and we'll be right back.

So, here are some phrases that can make your child smile today. As mentioned before, saying 'I'm proud of you' and giving a specific reason why you're proud is crucial. Trust me, you want to explain why. There have been many times when I would say, 'Oh, I'm so proud of you,' and my student would ask, 'Why?' Saying 'I'm proud of you' without explanation might backfire if you're not ready to actually explain. A great example of this is saying, 'I'm proud of you for continuing to do your homework and pushing through, even though you don't want to. I see your effort, and it doesn't go unnoticed.'

The next one is simply saying 'thank you' and explaining the reason why you're thankful. Maybe your kid had a tough day at school, but just recognizing that they're still pushing through and being helpful is something to be truly thankful for. Especially after they express that today was a hard day, saying thank you can go a very long way. It lets your kids know that you see them and notice everything they're doing.

Now, on to the next one. For the kids that are like me and are always stuck in their heads thinking about the next thing they could do, just saying 'you are a really good thinker' can really light up someone's face. If you have a child who is always deep in thought, saying this little thing will keep encouraging them that it's okay for them to be themselves, especially if they get too caught up in their head. You don't know how powerful this will affect them in the future and how thankful they will be for you just noticing how they think and accepting their whole thought process for who they are.

*Please give a gentle round of applause too…*