Parenting Behavior with Dr. Andy Kahn: Your Guide to Getting Through the Hard Times

Using praise to prevent your child’s outbursts

It may sound surprising, but praising your child for what they did correctly when they got upset can help prevent future tantrums or meltdowns.  

In this five-minute episode of What Now? A Parent’s Guide, psychologist Dr. Andrew Kahn explains how to notice your child’s self-calming efforts and give detailed praise so they’ll know what you want them to do again in the future.  

For more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.  

Related resources

  • The best way to praise kids who learn and think differently

Timestamps

(00:40) Why the right kind of praise can make a big difference  
(02:38) How to praise proactively  
(03:45) What you can practice ahead of time  

Explore Through My Eyes today. Step into the world of three kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia — helping you see differently so you can act differently.

Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give