Most parents agree that telling your kids, “I love you,” is an important daily parenting habit. 

But I believe there is one other phrase that parents should tell their kids regularly.

It is a phrase that impacted my life. When I was growing up, my dad used to look me in the eye, no matter how good my grades or performance, and say, “I’m proud of you.” I grew up knowing that I was not a disappointment to him.

We gave that same assurance to our own kids. Maybe we didn’t do it daily, but we tried on a regular basis to tell them that in no uncertain terms, “I am proud of you – WE are proud of you.”

Your child needs to know this. He needs to know that of course you love him but that no matter what you also are proud of him. No matter if he sits the bench or gets a C on his report card.

Even if you think he has done nothing to be proud of, look until you find it. You can be proud of him for doing his best, for working hard, for not giving up — there must be something you can be proud of. Don’t stop looking until you find it.

With that information constantly being pumped into his psyche, he will stand a little taller, walk a little farther, work a little harder.

Janis B. Meredith, sports mom and coach's wife, writes a sports parenting blog called JBM Thinks. She authored the Sports Parenting Survival Guide Series and has recently launched a podcasting series for sports parents. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.