Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Saint Louis, MO

Preschool aged children can be charming, sweet and kind but they can also be contrary, whiny and screamers who throw frustrating tantrums. Discipline can be difficult and exhausting for parents because there is no magic wand that makes a kid behave. One way to teach kids your expectations for their behavior is by rewarding them when they do things the right way to prevent times when they "do it wrong". Instead of using candy or toys as rewards, parents can reward kids by using positive verbal reinforcement, i.e. telling them good job. The main idea is to catch your child doing something right and heap on positive feedback and reinforcement. By praising your preschooler, you are teaching them your expectations for good behavior which can lead to less bad behavior. Use exaggerated voices, expressions and reactions to show you are very happy with their behavior. Get excited!

However, saying "Good Job" over and over again can become mind-numbing and lose impact because the kid has heard it so many times. The following is a list of ways to say good job without actually saying good job. Praise the behavior you want to encourage with one of these phrases and include the specific action (or lack of action) the child performed with these positive statements. 

1. I'm so proud of you!
2. Excellent choice
3. It makes me happy when you do that
4. Good remembering
5. You are awesome
6. Congratulations, you did it right!
7. Thank you for remembering
8. Nice going/Nice Job
9. Keep it up
10. You are getting better at that every time
11. Now you have it
12. Good listening
13. You've just about got it
14. You must have been practicing
15. That is the best ever
16. You are learning a lot
17. You did very well today when we ____
18. That is the best you've ever done!
19. Way to figure it out
20. That's it!
21. You make me smile when you _______
22. You are very good at that
23. I like it when you did______
24. Wow, you are so nice!
25. Great, Wonderful, Fantastic, Excellent, Perfect, Super, Bueno, Wow or Outstanding!