Mom was puzzled when her 5-year-old put artwork on the wall — what she discovered made her message his teacher immediately

Jennifer Douglas, a mom from Canada, noticed her 5-year-old son put all his artwork on his bedroom wall. She was confused, as she had never seen her boy express such confidence in his paintings before. Cutting into her thoughts, Douglas decided to ask the reason, and what her son said revealed a profound truth about raising kids. She (@gfishandnuggets) posted the incident on X.

Her son had spent over an hour sticking all of his artwork to his bedroom wall. No doubt it looked great, and his mom also complimented him about it, but it was his teacher's words that had boosted his confidence. "He proudly told me, 'My teacher said I’m an artist,'" Douglas recalled. The mom suddenly recognized the profound impact teachers have on their kids and how their encouragement can make all the difference in their lives. "Teachers, never underestimate how much your positive words mean to our kids," she urged.

Not only teachers, but also encouraging words in general can empower someone in ways we don't even realize. Douglas turned to X to mention another incident where strangers' kind words lifted her spirits and assured her that she had raised her neurodivergent son well. They were at a restaurant when a group of ladies approached them and complimented Douglas's son's good behavior in public. "What they didn’t know is that he is neurodivergent, and it took him a long time to get this far," she wrote. The mom was clearly overwhelmed by the genuine appreciation as she wrote, "These ladies have no idea how much their kind words meant to us."

Self-efficacy, or simply the belief in one's own ability to succeed in a certain situation, is developed by four different determining factors, and "verbal persuasion" is one of them. In 1977, psychologist Albert Bandura, who coined the term, explained that when others praise or acknowledge our abilities, it enhances our self-efficacy. However, encouragement boosts confidence only when it comes from someone whose opinion matters to us. When someone we trust, like our parents, teachers, or friends, expresses confidence in our abilities, we tend to believe in ourselves. Data collected from 2,000 US-based youth aged between 13 and 24 revealed that 93% found that kindness helped them move forward. Hearing positive and realistic feedback motivates us to try harder despite setbacks. Over time, this increased effort leads to actual success, which further strengthens self-efficacy. This explains why Douglas's son was so motivated by his teacher's words.

Meanwhile, reacting to the beautiful story reshared on LinkedIn, Claudio Mejan commented, "Never should we undervalue our children's creativity; instead, we should support them in pursuing their goals and equip them with the necessary tools to assist their imaginations in soaring beyond what they are accustomed to." Similarly, Susanna Morbach wrote, "I think it’s not only the teachers. It's words in general that have the power to motivate or to make a kid feel small. That’s why it is so utterly important to talk to your kid the right way. Choose your words wisely; they are a powerful tool." Alejandra Jackson commented, "We never truly forget our teachers who have made such an impact on our lives as children. At times, those memories mean more when living in an unstable atmosphere. I say this because I have lived it. Some of my teachers were the real reason for my motivation in school. Bless all the teachers giving their energy and patience in these chaotic times."

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