https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 04:25:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-preschool-asks-if-you-like-something#post-2556947 Thu, 26 May 2016 10:59:31 +0000 edelweiss 2556947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i read somewhere that it may be more helpful to say things like "i like watching you draw" or "it makes me happy when you draw" so that the value isn't on the end product but the process. however, if i were in your situation (because i do praise the end product plenty of times regardless of the above-mentioned advice), i would probably just say a half-hearted yes and get into talking about how this picture is different than the previous ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-preschool-asks-if-you-like-something#post-2556747 Thu, 26 May 2016 07:35:21 +0000 Jess1483 2556747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: when I can't come up with something quickly in the moment and I'm tempted to say "I'm so proud," my go-tos are "are you proud of yourself?" Or "how do you feel?" If that helps you get started 😉 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-preschool-asks-if-you-like-something#post-2556704 Thu, 26 May 2016 04:48:59 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2556704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I really feel like she was testing me. It really took me by surprise because it was the first time she's ever done something like that - not the scribbling part, but the purposely scribbling to see what my response is. The timing made it so obvious because she did it in sequence. I want her to feel loved and appreciated, but at the same time I want her to do things on her own without always having to please others, all the while putting in actual effort to the things she does. This parenting thing is hard! </p> <p>@simplyfelicity: Good advice, thank you. I'll try to implement it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-preschool-asks-if-you-like-something#post-2556703 Thu, 26 May 2016 04:38:22 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2556703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: After this incident, I'm starting to think that I actually praise her too much. It's like she was testing me. </p> <p>@Jess1483: I love your suggestions. I've been teaching her to stop at all intersections (and waiting for me) before crossing the street with her bike. Lately she's been asking me if I'm proud of her at each stop ... and I am, but pointing it out like that made me realize that I've saying it too much. I really want to teach her to be independent and do things for herself, but automatic phrase always slips out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-preschool-asks-if-you-like-something#post-2556692 Wed, 25 May 2016 23:55:32 +0000 Jess1483 2556692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to use value-neutral statements as much as possible, so in this instance I'd probably say something as simple as "you used blue for this picture" or even "tell me about it." I do it as much as I can so that his goal in doing things isn't to please others but himself. But I also say "good job" and "I love it" sometimes, because that's what slips out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-preschool-asks-if-you-like-something#post-2556652 Wed, 25 May 2016 21:13:08 +0000 simplyfelicity 2556652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably turn it around and ask, "do you like it?" If she says yes, you can ask why. Maybe she likes the color or something. If she says no, I would also ask why.she might say it's messy or something. Then, maybe offer your opinion.<br /> I do this with my students when they ask if I like something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-preschool-asks-if-you-like-something#post-2556633 Wed, 25 May 2016 20:06:58 +0000 MrsSRS 2556633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know what I'd say in the moment, but ideally maybe something like "hmm. I really like the pictures where you take your time and do your best work. Do you think this is your best work?" If they say yes then maybe ask what they like about it and if they say no suggest that they might like to try again. But ultimately I think your answer was fine. I'm are your LO gets plenty of praise from you when she deserves it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-preschool-asks-if-you-like-something#post-2556625 Wed, 25 May 2016 19:45:01 +0000 regberadaisy 2556625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hm I don't falsely lraise but I do try to find the positive. Ie coloring just isn't her favorite so at 4 she's still working on coloring inside the line. If she shows me and picture and asks if I love it I will say hey Great job trying to stay inside the line. If she did. If she didn't I'll compliment something else then say but let's try harder to stay in the line. Because often she just rushes through coloring.</p> <p>I try to start with something positive then encourage her to work harder on xyz </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-your-preschool-asks-if-you-like-something#post-2556525 Wed, 25 May 2016 16:51:07 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2556525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is almost 4. She loves to draw and has recently been into coloring in pictures that I've downloaded online. She's often praised for her art skills (at home and at preschool). She enjoys it and I love encouraging her. Now that's a little older (and can understand) I try to direct my praise on to specifics, like "I really like the color of her hair" or "you did a good job coloring inside the lines". </p> <p>Tonight, she went on with her routine: coloring, then showing me her work. As a mom, everything she draws is like a Picasso work of art to me, but tonight was a little different. The first few pieces she colored in, she took her time and it showed. Around the fifth picture, she basically just scribbled a color on top of the whole picture (it took 2 seconds) and promptly showed it to me and asked if I liked it.</p> <p>Without thinking, I said, "No, I don't." She looked shocked and I realized I may have been too harsh and tried to explain that I like the ones where she took more time to color it in and not just scribble on the picture (and showed her an example that she gave me previously). She took the scribbled picture and sat on her desk looking like she's about to cry!</p> <p>It occurred to me that maybe she's not old enough to understand this concept yet. This is uncharted territory for me. Out of curiosity, how do you react in this situation? Do you say you like it? Do you say you like it, but ... ? </p> <p>Btw, she never started crying. After sulking for a few minutes, she went on to color the picture more carefully and returned to me. </p>