Your Strategic Labeled Praise Scripts

Dr. Emily Gault, PhD · Child Psychologist · July 20, 2026

Many parents run out of words by the third day. You start strong with labeled praise. Then Tuesday hits, your child whines through breakfast, and you have trouble figuring out what to focus on. That's normal. Strategic labeled praise takes practice, and it's hard to invent new phrasing in the moment, especially for the behaviors that are hardest for your child.

I built resources to help you in the moment: strategic labeled praise scripts organized by the challenging behavior you're hoping to improve (listening, staying calm, kind hands, focus, cooperation, communication), and scripts organized by routine or scenario (brushing teeth, putting shoes on, mealtimes, restaurants).

Here's how to use them: pick one or two target behavior categories that match what you're working on right now. Don't try to tackle all of them at once if you're feeling overwhelmed. Keep the examples easily accessible on your phone so you're more likely to actually reference them in the moment. When you notice your child improving even slightly, use the shaping example in that category as your guide. Your praise should get more specific as their behavior gets closer to where you want it.

Subscribers to the newsletter get the fillable, phone-ready and printable versions of these scripts, organized by target behavior and by routine. If you'd like access, subscribe here.

Questions on how to use any of these with your specific situation? Reach out any time.

— Dr. Emily