As parents, our instinct is to shield our children from pain and disappointment. However, we inadvertently hinder their growth and resilience by protecting them from failure. As a parent and professional, I recognize the tremendous value of allowing children to make mistakes and experience failure. So let’s explore this concept of the gift of failure and why the focus should be on what we want our children to learn rather than solely focusing on their achievements or giving consequences for mistakes while they are growing.
Children aren’t adults. They must learn on their own that failure is learning and mistakes are nothing to fear.
Learning through Failure
Failure is not a dead-end but a stepping stone to growth and learning. When children face challenges and make mistakes, they have the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons daily. It is through failure that they develop decision-making, problem-solving skills, resilience, grit, and perseverance. Encouraging a growth mindset, where they view failure as an opportunity to improve, will empower them to confidently embrace challenges—decreasing their chances of significant depression and anxiety at a young age.
Building Resilience
Resilience is a crucial trait that allows children to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to life's ups and downs. By letting them experience failure and disappointment, we help them develop the resilience needed to face challenges in the future. When they learn to cope with failure constructively, they become better equipped to handle adversity and overcome obstacles throughout their lives. When we save our children from even the slightest discomfort, they learn they are not good enough, and we don’t believe they are capable or worthy in this world to do things on their own.
This one act is a parent's most difficult emotional task and the biggest GIFT you can give your child, the belief they can do anything all by themselves.
Fostering Independence
As parents, it can be tempting to intervene and solve our children's problems. However, we encourage independence and decision-making skills by allowing them to make mistakes or have an oops. We help them integrate their brains, strengthening their can-do spirit and encouraging their emotional and psychological development in a healthy way. When they take ownership of their actions and learn from their missteps, they gain a sense of autonomy and self-confidence that will serve them well in adulthood. They have to know how to decide, solve a problem without you, and know how to keep themselves safe and secure in this world.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is a belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. When we focus on what our children can learn from their experiences, especially failures, we instill a growth mindset. This mindset encourages them to take on challenges, seek and adjust to feedback, and continuously strive for improvement, leading to more significant personal and academic achievements in the long run. A growth mindset is a protective factor for managing anxiety and depression in youth and adulthood.
Emphasizing Effort Over Outcome
Instead of only emphasizing achievement and success, we should encourage and acknowledge our children's efforts. By doing so, we show them their hard work and determination are valuable, regardless of the outcome. That even mistakes create beauty and learning opportunities. Nothing is a waste of time if we learn something from it. This approach fosters a healthy attitude towards failure, where they understand that setbacks are a natural part of the learning process. AND that you support them in taking risks, being curious, and being willing to make mistakes, with you cheering them on when they do so.
Supporting Emotional Well-being
Allowing children to experience failure and make mistakes in a supportive environment can also contribute to their emotional well-being. When they know they are accepted and loved unconditionally, they are more likely to develop a positive self-image and handle disappointment with grace and self-compassion. They set healthy expectations of themselves and limit the dangers of perfectionism and stress.
I encourage parents to embrace the gift of failure and let their children risk making mistakes. We foster resilience, independence, and a growth mindset by focusing on what we want our children to learn from their experiences. Failure is not a reflection of inadequacy but an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.
Empower your child to face challenges with courage, learn from their mistakes, and grow into a confident, resilient, and adaptable individual well-prepared for life's journey.
Did you miss the previous blogs for Summer of Connection? Find them here.
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