Your children are paying very close attention to you (even though it may not seem like it). 

We have been well trained in our society to praise “big thing” like tests, grades, sports team success, concerts, etc., but we often forget to provide acknowledgement that every day brings its little victories and happy moments: the time when your child took the bus both to school and home for the first time, or joined the kickball game for the first time, or after many tries was able to say a tongue twister.

Celebration here could mean everything from verbal acknowledgement, to a high five, to “bragging” to a grandparent, to anything else in your toolbox. It does not need to be a ‘party’ or a physical reward. Your child needs to see that you are paying attention, that you see that it was a big deal, and that you care. This encourages more risk taking, and it is especially important to celebrate the efforts and, yes, the failures too - not just the successes.