Two Tricky Moments

Even careful parents hit snags. Two come up a lot:

• You already over-praised. You don't have to walk it back — just shift. Add the detail you skipped: "I said it was great earlier; what I really liked was how you fixed the roof when it caved in." The specifics quietly reset what you're rewarding.
• The work honestly isn't good. Skip the fake "amazing," but don't pile on either. Name something true and point forward: "The colors are bold. The wheels look uneven — want to try lining them up?" Honest beats hollow, and it still leaves room to improve.