A small ritual after a hard day gives it a better ending. A certificate, a special lunch or a phone call to Grandma tells a child that the difficult thing they did was noticed, and that it mattered.

Specific praise tends to land better than general praise. “You held still for the nurse even though you were nervous” tells a child exactly what they did well, and quietly invites them to do it again. The Office's documents are built around that idea: name the deed, describe the courage, make it official.

Recognition doesn't need to be big or expensive. A sheet of paper with their name, a seal and a few warm words is often the thing that stays on the fridge for weeks.