Courage

It can be scary to try new things, and even scarier, to make mistakes! Here's what you can do to recognize the importance of  mistakes!

1. Focus on Growth Mindset. "A recent study published in Developmental Cognitive Science revealed that after making a mistake, children with growth mindsets show a larger brain response than those with fixed mindsets... Failure is inevitable, but by focusing their attention on what went wrong and how they could fix it, kids with growth mindsets were able to turn failures into positive learning experiences."

2. Remember, kids grow from failure! "Challenging experiences are the only way we develop certain coping and problem-solving skills. If we shield children from adversity, key brain connections cannot develop."

3. Celebrate mistakes. Give kids an opportunity to talk about their mistakes and what they learned from them.

4. Explain the brain science behind mistakes. There is plenty of scientific evidence to support brain development and it's link to learning from mistakes!

5. Remind kids that their feelings are valid. Mistakes are frustrating and they can lead to angry feelings. These feelings do not define them! Building healthy coping skills such as positive self-talk, deep breathing, and more, will help get them through a tough time!

BIGLIFEJOURNAL.com