You may not realize it, but here's what the research shows 👇 1. When you praise their natural ability, you might be discouraging them from taking on challenges. A Stanford study (Mueller & Dweck, 1998) found that children praised for being smart were more likely to avoid challenges and give up sooner when things got hard. Kids praised for effort stayed motivated longer and felt more in control of their progress. The kind of praise they hear changes what they focus on: proving themselves or impr