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Child Quote by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

“5. You may celebrate and enjoy the delights of your spirited child. You can concentrate on strengths, appreciate her tender heart, and tickle your fancy with her wild stories and crazy creations. It is appropriate and right to tell her when she is good, instead of when she is bad, to teach her the…” quote by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
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““5. You may celebrate and enjoy the delights of your spirited child. You can concentrate on strengths, appreciate her tender heart, and tickle your fancy with her wild stories and crazy creations. It is appropriate and right to tell her when she is good, instead of when she is bad, to teach her the right way to behave rather than to punish her for innocent errors. Your spirited child possesses personality traits that we value in adults. It is never too early to begin proclaiming her virtues.””

Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

About This Quote

Source Book: The Spirited Child, Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, 1995

Encourage and nurture a child's lively spirit by focusing on strengths and positive reinforcement rather than punishment.

In simple terms: Praise strengths, avoid punishment for harmless mistakes.

Key Takeaway

Focus on positive traits early.

Themes

parenting child development positivity

Mood

warm encouraging

Type

advice parenting guide

When to use this quote

  • early childhood education
  • family counseling
  • parent‑child bonding

Key Concepts

reinforcement character building emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you balance praise with guidance?
  • What strengths does your child show most often?
A Different Perspective

Positive reinforcement may overlook needed boundaries for behavior correction.

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