Mistakes mean we’re learning. If your child cries when a drawing goes wrong or a tower falls, here’s how to help them try again.
Nobody likes to mess up. Grown-ups don’t either. But every spill, wrong turn and wobbly letter is part of learning something new. When kids see that everybody makes mistakes, trying again gets a little easier.
What it means for your child
Here’s what learning from mistakes can look like at each age.
- Babies: Your baby tips over, tries to stand again and plops down. Every tumble is practice. Smile and cheer them on.
- Toddlers: The shape goes in the wrong hole and the shoe goes on the wrong foot. Let them figure it out before you fix it.
- Preschoolers: They may crumple a drawing or cry when a tower falls. Say, “Oops! Let’s try again,” and show them it’s not the end of the world.
- School-age kids: Homework mistakes can feel big now. Help them look at what went wrong, fix one thing and keep going.
Try this tonight
Tonight, tell a “mistake story” at dinner or bedtime.
- Think of a small mistake you made this week, like burning the toast or taking a wrong turn.
- Tell your child what happened and what you did next to fix it.
- Ask, “Did you make a mistake today? What did you do?”
Words you can use
- “Oops! That’s okay. Let’s try again.”
- “Mistakes help us learn.”
- “You didn’t give up. I’m proud of you.”
At Nana’s Place
At Nana’s Place, children from 6 weeks to 12 years old spend their days, evenings and nights with us at two Glendale buildings. For little ones, trying again is part of every day. If you’d like to visit, book a tour and come see us.
Questions parents ask
Why does my child get so upset about mistakes?
Some children want things to be just right, and it feels big when they aren’t. Stay calm, name the feeling and show them how you fix your own mistakes.
Should I fix things for my child when they get it wrong?
Try waiting a moment first. Give a small hint if they’re stuck, and let them do the fixing. That’s how they find out they can do it.
As Nana says in Little hands, big dreams, spills are just practice. And every proud moment starts small, because every “I did it!” starts with “Can I try?”
