Help your child cope with failure, gracefully

Failures are the pillars of success, runs the saying. Well, setbacks are obvious companions in our journey to success. That’s a bitter truth, right? Many, even the ones who are more or less sorted in their heads, find it difficult to cope with failure. This is even more true in the case of kids. It requires special efforts on the part of parents to help them do so. Coping with setbacks is an essential life skill that helps kids become resilient.  

Prepping your children to manage failures can constructively help them become better equipped to handle disappointment. Developing immunity to setbacks also helps them develop high confidence and self-esteem. The right thing to do is to rebuild a sense of composure and self-assurance in them. Here’s how you can inspire your youngster to deal with setbacks. 

Help kids manage their expectations  
Encourage your child to acknowledge the fact that failure cannot be avoided always. What can be done instead is to build endurance and get better with time. Teach them that there is always a next time for everything and acceptance of defeat is the first step towards overcoming it. Failure gives your child a chance to absorb past experiences. Make them realise that failure is an inevitable part of the learning process. This will reduce the possibility of them getting overwhelmed by it. 

Celebrate mistakes together 
Highlight the goodness in each mistake and let your kids identify a learning outcome from each mistake. Allow them to self-assess what went wrong while helping them turn every failed attempt into a possible stepping stone. Acknowledge the efforts made by your child in the process that led to failure. Celebrate the effort, which will make your child realise that every mistake makes them stronger. This will help your child get over the fear of failure.  

Instil positivity 
Failure can be transformed into a learning experience if children are positively motivated. Viewing failure as an opportunity to accomplish future endeavours is a capacity that you can inculcate in your youngster. Encouraging words, positive talk, and enlightening guidance can shape a positive perspective.  

Teach the art of bouncing back 
Assure your children that it is very much possible to get back on track after a let-down. Avoid pushing them beyond limits and help them think of unpleasant moments as new challenges. Give them a sense of security with contingency plans and reassurance at every step. 

Become a role model 
Parents happen to be the first teachers to every child. Your little one will follow (and even copy!) you in most cases. So, as a parent, it is extremely important for you to have an optimistic outlook towards life. It is a great way to help kids learn the power of positivity. Also, share your disappointments with your kids to keep them closer to reality. Show your kids how to grow out of tough times with examples from your life.