What habits can build admiration for unique strengths in others? 

Parenting Perspective 

Children naturally compare themselves to others. They notice who runs the fastest, draws the best, or answers questions the quickest. Without gentle guidance, this comparison can turn admiration into envy. Parents can redirect this by helping children form habits that celebrate the gifts of others, learning to see them as part of the design of Allah Almighty, not as threats to their own worth. 

Start by naming admiration as a good feeling. Say, ‘It is beautiful to notice when someone does something well; it helps us to learn from them.’ This teaches that praise for others is not a weakness, but a sign of emotional intelligence. Children need to know they can celebrate another person’s strength without feeling smaller. 

Model and Encourage Verbal Admiration 

Model admiration yourself. Speak openly about people’s talents with humility and gratitude: ‘Your teacher explains things so clearly; that is a gift Allah Almighty gave her,’ or ‘Your friend is good at running, and you are good at noticing details. Both are blessings.’ When children hear you celebrate others naturally, they learn that confidence and appreciation can coexist. 

Encourage your child to express their admiration out loud. You can teach them to say, ‘I liked how you did that,’ or ‘You are really good at this.’ Compliments build a generosity of spirit and remind children that kind words have power. 

Pair Admiration with Gratitude 

A strong habit is gratitude pairing: after admiring someone, thank Allah Almighty for giving that person their gift. Say together, ‘Alhamdulillah, Allah Almighty gives everyone something special.’ This keeps admiration free from jealousy. When envy appears, do not shame it. Instead, normalise it gently by saying, ‘It is okay to wish you had that skill, but instead of feeling bad, let us learn from them.’ This turns comparison into motivation. 

Use Stories to Highlight Diverse Contributions 

Stories can help to strengthen this value. Tell stories where each character contributes differently one with cleverness, one with kindness, and one with courage. Emphasise that success happens when differences unite, not when one outshines the rest. You can say, ‘If everyone had the same strength, no one would need anyone else.’ 

Create a Family Ritual of Noticing Goodness 

Create a family ritual of noticing goodness. During dinner or at bedtime, ask, ‘Who did something amazing today?’ Let each person share one small strength they admired in someone else. These conversations build a culture of appreciation at home. Over time, these small habits noticing, thanking, praising, and learning will transform how children see others. They will begin to feel joy, not discomfort, in witnessing someone else’s light. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that recognising the blessings of others is itself an act of faith. Admiring someone’s strength with sincerity brings barakah because it is rooted in humility, not competition. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah An Nahl (16), Verses 18: 

‘And if you should count the favour of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful…’ 

This verse reminds us that every skill, talent, and ability whether in ourselves or in others is a gift from Allah Almighty. You can explain to your child, ‘When we admire someone’s gift, we are noticing one of the favours of Allah Almighty. It is a way of saying thank You to Him.’ 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 45, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.’ 

This Hadith transforms admiration into a spiritual goal. You can say, ‘When you are happy for someone’s success, Allah Almighty loves that. It shows that your heart is clean and generous.’ 

Encourage your child to whisper a dua when they admire someone: ‘Ya Allah, bless them and give me goodness too.’ This keeps admiration pure and protects the heart from envy. When children learn to see the gifts of others as signs of divine generosity, they stop measuring their worth against others and begin to celebrate differences as a thing of beauty.