Parenting Perspective 

Children often interpret positive affirmation in a way that risks complacency—the belief that their current effort is sufficient, which can lead to stagnation. To counteract this, you must transform recognition from a final reward into a springboard for curiosity, guiding them to see success as a cue to explore, deepen understanding, and continue their intellectual journey. 

Praise the Approach, Not Just the Result 

Shift your focus from the quality of the outcome to the strategy the child employed. This frames their actions as experiments, encouraging them to ask, ‘What else can I try?’ 

1. Praise the Method: Instead of saying, ‘You did this perfectly,’ focus on: ‘I like how you tried different methods to solve this problem; that was resourceful.’ 

2. Highlight the Process: Emphasise the effort used to get there, rather than resting on the single achievement. 

Invite Questions Alongside Recognition 

After acknowledging the effort, prompt reflection that deliberately opens new pathways for thinking. This teaches them that every success is a valuable stepping stone. 

1. Prompt Wonder: Ask: ‘What do you wonder about this topic now that you understand this part?’ 

2. Seek Next Steps: Ask: ‘Which specific part would you like to explore next to deepen your knowledge?’ 

Model Curiosity in Response to Success 

Children learn essential behaviours from observation. When you receive recognition, demonstrate active inquisitiveness to show that learning never stops. 

1. Express Inquisitiveness: Say: ‘I am pleased it worked, and I am already wondering if there is a better, more efficient way to approach it next time.’ 

2. Show Gateway Thinking: Model the idea that achievement is a gateway, not a final destination, by always looking ahead to new knowledge. 

Link Praise to Experimentation 

Encourage small, actionable follow up steps that naturally expand upon what was recognised. 

1. Suggest Iteration: Say: ‘You wrote a clear story; can you try adding another character’s perspective tomorrow to expand it?’ 

2. Encourage Play: This frames effort as iterative and playful, rather than finite or perfect. 

A micro-action: The next time you praise your child, immediately follow the acknowledgment with a curiosity prompt like, ‘What would you like to discover next about that subject?’ Keep the focus firmly on exploration rather than perfection. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam nurtures a mindset that profoundly values continual striving and thoughtful reflection, reminding us that true growth is a journey that is never complete. Linking praise to curiosity teaches children that every success is an opportunity to seek knowledge and act with sincere intention, aligning their worldly effort with essential spiritual awareness. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran in Surah Al Mujadilah (58), Verse 11: 

‘…(And in return) Allah (Almighty) shall elevate those who are believers amongst you, and those people who are given the knowledge (of existential reality) in various stages; and Allah (Almighty) is fully Cognisant with your actions.’ 

This verse demonstrates that recognition and growth are intertwined; knowledge and effort elevate a person in the sight of Allah Almighty. Children who connect praise to exploration internalise that success is not static but a path toward greater understanding and higher spiritual status. 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 224, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim, and he who imparts knowledge to those who do not deserve it, is like one who puts a necklace of jewels, pearls and gold around the neck of swines.’ 

When praise is intentionally paired with curiosity, children adopt the principle that learning is continuous. Recognition thus becomes a tool that motivates active inquiry rather than fostering passive complacency. Over time, children understand that every accomplishment carries a crucial question: How can I build upon this? This nurtures intrinsic motivation, profound humility, and a lifelong habit of connecting effort to discovery, guided by Allah Almighty’s wisdom.