I’ve been trying to help my kids understand that mistakes are part of learning, but it’s not easy. They get so frustrated when they mess up. I want to use positive reinforcement, but I’m not sure how to approach it. Anyone have tips on encouraging kids to see mistakes as opportunities rather than failures? What’s worked for you?
We started a ‘mistake of the day’ chat at dinner. My kid shares something that didn’t go as planned, and we brainstorm what to try next time. It’s pretty low-key, and she seems more comfortable talking about setbacks now.
I’ve noticed she’s more willing to attempt new things too. She even laughed off burning toast this morning - progress!
Has anyone tried mistake-themed board games? I’ve seen a few online but wasn’t sure if they’d be helpful or just feel preachy.
In our house, we’ve been working on this too. We started a little tradition called ‘Today’s Whoopsie’ at dinner. Each of us shares something that didn’t go as planned that day. It’s helped make mistakes feel more normal and less scary for the kids.
We also have a ‘try something new’ challenge each week. Sometimes it goes great, other times not so much. But the focus is on giving it a shot, not being perfect. I’ve noticed my kids are more willing to attempt tricky things now.
Have you thought about family game nights where everyone’s learning a new game together? It can be a fun way to show it’s okay to mess up and figure things out as you go. Plus, it’s just nice family time!
I’ve been struggling with this too. My 5-year-old gets so upset when things don’t go perfectly.
We started a little ‘oops book’ where we write down funny mistakes we make. It’s helping to lighten the mood.
I’m curious - has anyone tried using games or apps to teach this? I’ve heard some parents use those, but I’m not sure how effective they are.
What do you all think about rewards for trying new things, even if they don’t work out? I want to encourage bravery but don’t want to overdo it with prizes.
I remember when my kids were younger, they’d get so upset over little mistakes. It took time, but we found ways to make it easier. One thing that worked was sharing our own goof-ups at dinner. We’d laugh about burnt cookies or wrong turns while driving. It helped the kids see mistakes weren’t so scary.
We also started a ‘try something new’ day each week. Sometimes it went well, sometimes not. But the focus was on giving it a shot, not being perfect. Over time, I noticed the kids weren’t as hard on themselves when things didn’t work out.
What about you? Have you tried anything like family game nights where everyone’s learning something new together? It could be a fun way to show it’s okay to mess up sometimes. 
I’ve tried to make mistakes less of a big deal at home. We talk about what went wrong and how to fix it next time.
My kids seem to handle setbacks better now. They’re more willing to try new things too.