Children and adults learn better when they receive a reward for good behavior versus when they receive criticism for bad behavior, notes the Child Discipline With Love website. Constructive criticism does not scold, insult, embarrass or harm anyone. It points out what was done correctly and how to fix what needs improvement. Constructive criticism makes children think they can improve. When you teach a child how to critique other children in this way, not only does the child receiving the criticism feel good about what he hears, but also the child giving the criticism feels heard.
Children make mistakes as they grow, and as an authority figure it is your job to correct them. Even something that seems impersonal such as correcting a punctuation mistake or awkward sentences can hurt a child's feelings and make her feel as if she is incapable of writing well if the criticism is not constructive. One of the benefits of writing critiques is that they are private and criticism is received better in a private communique, according to HealthyPlace.com. Focus only on the most important errors and how to fix them. Encourage children to do the same when critiquing each other.
The best way to teach children is by example. Provide critique constructively both orally and in writing. If you observe a child criticizing another person in a destructive manner, remain calm and point out what the child could have said in a constructive way. Instruct children to give clear recommendations for future improvement and not to dwell on present mistakes. A good technique is to ask the child to put himself in the shoes of the person who needs criticism. This encourages a child to be kind, understanding and helpful, just as he would want someone to be to him.
Destructive or negative criticism is generally a waste of time. It makes people feel bad and causes them to lose confidence; it does not inspire the desired change that prompted the critique in the first place. People take negative criticism personally. Even critiquing something impersonal such as grammar or spelling in a nonconstructive way can make the child feel that you think she is stupid or hopeless. She may take it as if you are criticizing her and not her writing. Point this out to kids with written examples so they know the difference and can critique each other effectively.