Parenting is a remarkable journey that comes with its own set of challenges. As super moms and super dads, we aim to shield our children from failure and disappointment. However, failure is an essential part of their learning and development. Here is the importance of encouraging our kids to fail and how it can build resilience and also shape their personalities.
1. Building Confidence and Self-Esteem
Experiencing failure and learning from mistakes empower kids to believe in their abilities. Their confidence will grow as they learn from their mistakes and overcome them. We should celebrate their effort rather than their success in order to raise a child who has self-assured value and also the willingness to take a risk. For example, parents can say “I see that you worked really hard on that science project, you did well.”. Praising their effort will encourage them to try hard in the future.
2. Catalyst for Growth
Failure is a stepping stone to growth. It's an opportunity for the children to learn valuable lessons. Just like playing a round of card games, there will always be a win or a loss. Parents can teach them how to handle their disappointment and bounce back stronger. It is also an opportunity to nurture positive values like an ability to adapt and also problem-solving skills.
3. Encourage Live-long Learning
Failure teaches our children that learning is a continuous process. Finding the right answer is not the goal but an opportunity for them to explore, experiment and also think critically. Parents can cultivate a love for learning and a growth mindset in their children and allow them to reach their full potential.
4. Nurturing Empathy
Resilience comes hand in hand with empathy. It allows kids to connect and understand others on a deeper level. As we open up to our kids to make mistakes and learn from them, they have an opportunity to empathize with other people who are undergoing similar things that happen to them. They will have a sense of empathy that helps them in socializing with other people. By embracing their mistakes, they will have more compassion and react to things with kindness.
Let’s embark on this parenting journey with open hearts and minds as we know that failure is a stepping stone towards greatness.
References
- https://zierinstitute.com/building-resilient-children-using-small-failures-as-a-gift/#:~:text=When%20kids%20learn%20how%20to,the%20power%20of%20our%20decisions.
- https://www.psycom.net/build-resilience-children
- https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/behaviour/understanding-behaviour/resilience-how-to-build-it-in-children-3-8-years