The Function of Avoiding Praise
About this episode
This episode explores why some students, particularly autistic learners, avoid praise and offers strategies for providing encouragement that feels safe and regulating.
In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re unpacking something that can feel surprisingly personal as educators and parents. Why do some students avoid praise? Why do they shrug off encouragement, get silly, look away, minimize their work, or even become dysregulated right after being complimented? We explore how praise is not always experienced as positive or motivating, especially for autistic students and learners who experience high levels of anxiety, masking, social pressure, or nervous system overwhelm. We dive into the hidden demands that can come with praise, including processing social interaction, managing eye contact, interpreting tone, responding verbally, and coping with the sudden feeling of being “seen.” I also talk about how praise can accidentally increase pressure for some students, particularly those who are perfectionistic, highly masked, or used to praise being linked to compliance and expectations. Sometimes avoiding praise is not rejection of kindness at all. It is a way of reducing social load, avoiding the spotlight, or protecting nervous system safety. This episode is full of gentle, practical shifts to help you encourage…
More episodes of Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki
- When Students Sabotage Their Own Work
- Behavior That Escalates After Success
- Why Some Students Only Meltdown with Safe Adults
- The Hidden Function of “Silly” Behavior
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki podcast page.