Over-Praising Your Kids Could Turn Them Into Narcissists

According to a study titled, "Origins of Narcissisim in Children" from Ohio State University and the University of Amsterdam researchers found that bestowing too much praise can harm your child's development and might even turn them into narcissists.

Shelton family therapist, Melissa Hamilton believes it's essential to reinforce positive behavior in kids with a little bit of praise. She says that children need to feel loved, nurtured, and appreciated BUT that some parents go a bit over the top.

Children who are praised for every little thing sometimes feel they don't need to make their best effort.

Researchers found that children who were overpraised were more likely to develop narcissistic qualities as they got older. Kids who experienced more parental warmth such as affection rather than praise were more likely to develop higher self esteem.

The lesson here according to John M. Musser, a professor of child psychiatry at Yale University, is "Excessive anything is invariably a problem." Moderation, even as it pertains to praising your children, is the way to go.