Throughout the Girls on the Run afterschool program season, coaches encourage and guide girls as they develop new skills and pursue their goals. As girls work hard to cross the 5K finish line, coaches ensure they feel seen, heard, and supported. These 17 compliments mirror the kindness, compassion, and celebration coaches bring to their teams, practice after practice.
Want to help create a positive environment where learning, joy, and growth thrive? Recognize and celebrate effort — not just for big pursuits, but for small wins and gradual progress. As most can agree, the path to reaching a goal can be messy and full of trial and error. But, like poet Rupi Kaur’s quote states, “if you were born with the weakness to fall, you were born with the strength to rise.” We couldn’t agree more. Inside all of us is a power to remain resilient when obstacles surface. And while we may know some of this deep down, it feels good to be reminded of it from a loved one, teacher, or coach.
Think about a time as a child when you were studying for a big test, preparing for an audition, or pursuing any goal that required heart and dedication. There were likely ups and downs, yet you kept showing up and giving it your best. The vision was clear. You understood the hurdles would be worth it, even if no one could see the outcome but you. Now, imagine during that same experience, someone going out of their way to say, “I see all of your hard work, and I’m so proud of you.” It’s likely this simple kindness would have made a lingering positive impact. This reminder can help people (especially youth) understand that their goals matter, people believe in them, and they can achieve other great things — even if there are stumbles along the way.
As you and your family begin to set goals and prepare for the school year, keep these 17 compliments in your back pocket! Sharing these will boost your kid’s confidence and inspire them to follow your example and celebrate the efforts of classmates, friends, and community members!
“Trust your brain — you got this!”
“Look at what you did! That’s so awesome and unique! Keep it up!”
“I can see you’ve gotten really good at [skill]! It really shows that you’ve been practicing. Great job sticking with it!”
“You didn’t let a setback stop you, and that alone is something to celebrate!”
“I know it hasn’t always been easy, and I appreciate how you never gave up.”
“I can see you’ve poured your heart into this.”
“Wow! You’re working so hard. I can’t wait to see what it looks like when you’re done. I bet it will be awesome!”
“Even when it got difficult, you kept a positive attitude. Way to keep your head up!”
“Your determination inspires ME to try new things and set new goals!”
“You set a goal for yourself and worked toward it. Now look how far you’ve come!”
“Because you didn’t give up when it was hard, you’ve learned something new. How cool is that?!”
“I noticed how you kept trying different ways until you figured it out. That’s real problem-solving!”
“The way you stayed focused, even when it got tricky, really paid off.”
“I love how you used what you learned last time to make this even better.”
“You kept working at it, and now you can do something you couldn’t before.”
“I’m proud of how you learned from your mistakes and kept going.”
“You kept adjusting until you found a way that worked — that’s called perseverance!
When we recognize and celebrate hard work, we help children see that the process matters as much as the end result. As the school year unfolds, we encourage you to keep these phrases in mind. They might be short, but they have the power to build confidence, strengthen goal-setting skills, and motivate kids to keep giving their best and inspire others to do the same!
Are you interested in learning more about compliments that aren’t about looks? We have a blog for that! Ready to bring kind compliment sharing into your household? Check out these four fun activities!
