Sean Covey Quotes

You should encourage a child to show off. You can say to a child, 'Stop being rude,' 'Stop shouting,' 'Stop jumping around on the furniture.' But 'Stop showing off'? That's awful.

Children need models rather than critics.

If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others.

I want to be a good example for my son. That's the best way to parent - to be the example of what you want to see in them. That's definitely how my parents parented and how my grandparents parented. And it works.

You're much better off creating positive rewards, complimenting people for acting correctly, rather than punishing them when they act incorrectly.

It is worth while too to warn the teacher that undue severity in correcting faults is liable at times to discourage a boy's mind from effort.

I think that giving mindless praise is ridiculous. But I understand why parents do it. They want their kids to feel good about themselves. But parents are never going to teach their children true, positive self esteem by praising everything they do.

Let's say, Yes, to kids who say, No.

I think that kids need to be guided; they need to be disciplined, but in a way that's constructive, so that's what I try to do.

I think we as fathers have to say good things about our children or else they will beat us.

My dad has always been vocal about critically appreciating me. If I have done a bad job, he will definitely try to correct me with his inputs.

I don't crush the kids. But I do want them to know that they have to earn what they get. I'm not like Jimmy Piersall's dad or anything. I mean, I tell them I'm happy if they just do the best they can. My parents were that way with me.

Mass appreciation doesn't always equate to something good.

My theory is children don't do what you tell them to do, they do what you do. You have to always do the right thing because they follow you.

If you keep telling a youngster he is no good, he might begin to doubt himself. A pat on the back could bring the very best out of him.

At its best, an injunction creates a kind of vigilant heat that moves kids toward the light.

Correction does much, but encouragement does more.

Reprove your friends in secret, praise them openly.

Instead of yelling and spanking, which don't work anyway, I believe in finding creative ways to keep their attention - turning things into a game, for instance. And, when they do something good, positive reinforcement and praise.

One of the most difficult parental challenges is to appropriately discipline children. Child rearing is so individualistic. Every child is different and unique. What works with one may not work with another.

My mom has a good way of engaging me in a conversation about the choices I make, listening, being objective and open-minded, and respecting those choices so long as they don't put me in danger.

I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.

I always try to think of positive things to say about the people I portray, as it's more helpful for me.

Kids are absolutely starved for positive adult contact.

I think children learn from example. I don't believe in raising them in an authoritative atmosphere.