An expert has warned parents they shouldn't be using simple everyday phrases to praise their children.
Dr Kristyn Sommer's advice has been shared thousands of times online after she said parents should stop using phrases such as 'well done' and 'great work'.
The lecturer is developmental psychology at the University of Queensland has a PhD in child development and is a mium herself.
Taking to social media to share her advice, Dr Sommer said: "Did you know that when it comes to kids, praise is poison? Like you shouldn't say 'good job', you shouldn't say 'great work' you shouldn't say 'well done'."
She added: "I had no idea either, and it never really sat well with me because of what I know of child development - isn't really compatible with that.
"Do you know how they learn to evaluate their own behaviours? They do it by it being modelled to them.
"So they look to adults, to figure out whether it was a good behaviour, or not, which means they should feel pride or shame, by seeing whether an adult feels pride or shame.
"Even when we are able to do it ourself we probably still need some help and revision.
"Things like 'that's amazing,' 'great job'. 'this is really cool', 'well done' - these phrases are really useful but here is the caveat... if your child comes up to you with a drawing, and they show it to you, and you say 'wow that's beautiful', there's nothing else to say."
She then revealed what parents should do instead, reports BirminghamLive, adding: "But if you say 'WOW how did you do that? All of a sudden you've opened up the conversation for the child to describe the behaviour that they had, and giving them an opportunity to start showing that self-evaluative emotion by walking through it."
