Please follow the New MAD 4-kids Instagram account for exclusive content! Follow Here👉 @mad.4kids

What do you tell your kid when they do something good? “Great job?” “You’re so talented!” “You’re so smart?” “You’re doing so good!” Etc… Yet even though you think they NEED to hear that it doesn’t always seem to help. (I get it, I say these things too. Instinct.) But what if saying these things actually hurts their performance? Well according to a study that was done at Stanford on the growth mindset says…yes it does! How you praise your kid’s performance can have a huge impact on their progress and therefore performance and overall enjoyment of the game. Check out this short video about this Stanford study. Very Interesting 🧐

Please comment below the area in which your young hitter struggles the most? The more you share with me the better I can help!

1. Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results Confidence starts with recognizing growth over time. Celebrate your child’s effort, commitment, and small improvements in practice—not just their stats in games. By focusing on effort, you’re helping them see that success is about persistence, which builds resilience and long-term confidence. 2. Teach a Growth Mindset Help your child understand that skills can be developed through hard work and learning from mistakes. When they have a tough game or make a mistake, frame it as a chance to learn. Remind them that even the best players struggle and that every challenge is an opportunity to get better. 3. Encourage Them to Set Personal Goals Let your child set small, realistic goals they can achieve during practice or games. These might be as simple as “I want to make contact with the ball three times in today’s game.” Achieving personal goals gives them a sense of accomplishment and shows them the power of focus, which builds their self-confidence. 4. Focus on Preparation and Routine Encourage a pre-game or pre-practice routine that helps your child feel mentally prepared. Routines build familiarity, and feeling prepared helps them feel ready to perform. Confidence grows when they know they’ve done the work and have a process they can rely on. 5. Be Their Support System, Not Just Their Coach It’s important to offer support rather than critique right after a tough game. Be there to listen and encourage them to talk about how they felt. Sometimes, the best thing you can do as a parent is to remind them that they’re valuable no matter the outcome and that you’re proud of their effort and dedication. With these five tips, you can help your young athlete develop a strong, confident mindset that will support them on and off the field! Which of the 5 hits home most for you? Comment below👇