Mistakes are Okay

Mistakes are learning opportunities. Use these strategies to assist your kids in making the most of mistakes by learning to problem solve. It’s a great skill to practice!

Errors are made all the time. The response to making a mistake ranges from anger and frustration to sadness and self-deprecation, depending on the perceived failure. How we respond is often how we see our kids respond. Be humble by admitting to your mistakes. Be gentle and patient with yourself and others because everyone makes mistakes.

5 Strategies for Making Mistakes Learning Experiences

1. Model appropriate responses to your own mistakes. Acknowledge the error, take a deep breath, then problem solve out loud so children see and hear the process. Kids need to know it’s normal for people to make mistakes.
2. “Oops!” is a great response for mistakes. Think of OOPS  as an acronym for “our opportunity to problem solve”. Ask the question, “How will you solve your problem?” or “Do you need help solving your problem?” depending on the age and stage of the child.
3. Assist in problem solving. Role playing is a great way to practice past mistakes and to prepare for situations your kids may experience. Add problem solving skills to their toolbox by acting out and discussing how to handle different situations.
4. Set appropriate expectations. Sometimes our expectations are too high and children cannot meet the goals we’ve set for them. Other times expectations is too low resulting in children not rising to their potential. Be aware of individual learning styles and personality. Keep in mind where each child is developmentally.
5. Pray your kids make mistakes, lots of mistakes, while they’re living at home. Practice may not make perfect, but having an opportunity to fail, err, or totally mess up and solve the problem will provide a foundation for solving bigger challenges in the future.

With all humility and gentleness,
with patience, bearing with one another in love…
Ephesians 4:2

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© 2023 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
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