100 Praises Daily For Kids: Understanding The Viral Parenting Theory

A parenting expert is making headlines with an eye-catching claim: children should be praised around 100 times a day to see behavioral changes. The number has sparked intense debate among parents and professionals alike. Some call it revolutionary, others say it's unrealistic, and many are simply confused about what it actually means.

So what's this theory really about? And more importantly, what should parents make of it?

Dr. Chelsey Hauge-Zavaleta, who has a PhD in Education and specializes in educational neuroscience, is the voice behind this viral advice. Her core message: 100 praises a day is the level at which psychologists see clinically significant differences in child behavior.

Her reasoning goes like this: when children hear repeatedly what they're doing well, those positive behaviors get wired into their brain and body memory. They naturally do more of what gets reinforced.

On the flip side, she argues that when children receive more negative instruction than positive feedback, they become more reactive. Instead of building memories of doing things right, they practice reacting and being explosive.

For neurodivergent children, particularly those with ADHD or autism, Dr. Hauge-Zavaleta's recommendation goes even higher: 462 praises daily. She references research showing these children receive approximately 20,000 more negative messages than their neurotypical peers by age 10. To counteract this, she suggests dramatically increasing positive feedback.

So how would a parent actually manage 100 (or 462) praises in one day? Dr. Hauge-Zavaleta recommends something called "sportscaster praise" or the PRIDE method, adapted from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.

The idea is simple: narrate what your child is doing well throughout the day, much like a sports commentator describes a game in real-time.

Examples include:

The praise should be specific (not just "good job"), immediate, genuine, and frequent. Instead of waiting for major achievements, parents would notice ordinary, everyday moments when children are cooperating or trying.

Reactions from parents have been mixed. Some report that consciously increasing praise has transformed their relationship with their children. They say they've become more aware of how often they were correcting rather than encouraging, and the shift has reduced power struggles.

Others find the number overwhelming and the approach exhausting. Some worry about giving insincere praise or creating children who need constant external validation. Many simply don't see how it fits into already-packed days.

If you're trying to decide what to make of this advice, here are some factors worth thinking about:

For parents curious about incorporating more praise, here's a balanced approach:

Start by simply noticing how often you currently offer positive feedback versus corrections. No judgment, just awareness.

Pick a few specific behaviors you'd like to reinforce, maybe cooperation during morning routines or gentler sibling interactions. Notice and name those when they happen.

Try the sportscaster technique during one part of the day, maybe dinnertime or homework, and see how it feels for both you and your child.

Pay attention to your child's response. Do they seem more confident? More cooperative? Or do they seem uncomfortable or attention-seeking? Their reaction matters.

Give it time. Behavioral changes don't happen overnight, whether you're using this method or any other approach.

If your child is showing persistent behavioral challenges, this approach, or any single technique, may not be enough. Consider speaking with your pediatrician or a child development specialist if:

The debate around this advice reflects a larger question in parenting: how do we balance supporting our children while also maintaining realistic expectations for ourselves?

Perhaps the most useful takeaway isn't the specific number but the underlying question: Is your child hearing more about what they're doing wrong than what they're doing right? If the ratio feels off, adjusting it, whether that's 10 more praises a day or 100, might be worth exploring.