If at First They Dont Succeed - What a Great Opportunity!


When kids try new things, sometimes it's a 'fit' and sometimes a struggle.

So what's a parent to do when they find that a child is floundering in a new activity? What if your son is in over his head? Or your daughter is not doing as well as either of you had hoped? What if they even fail outright?

Often, they're tempted to give up. Just to quit. And with the busy schedule facing most families, supporting that decision can be a real temptation.

But what's the lesson from that? Quitting just makes it easier to quit again later, or, worse still, can stifle the urge to tackle future challenges.

When faced with failure at a new activity, another option is to help your child to take a lesson from the experience. Before they leave a troublesome or difficult activity behind, is there something that they can learn that will help them to do better the next time?

The topic of 'my child's failures' is a tough one for some parents to look at. But here's a hint: try hard to keep them just that-your kids' failures.

If you're concerned that their performance reflects on you, you're right. It does. But the 'performance' that most adults care about is the one that has to do with your child's values and character. The child who picks herself up, dusts herself off and gets back into the game, shows a level of resiliency and confidence that is a credit to both of you.

No teacher, coach or fellow parent ever looked down on a parent whose child gave 100% effort. If your child isn't talented in sports, but tries and gives his and demonstrated good sportsmanship, you'll be regarded as a good parent.

Andrea Patten, LADC is the co-author of What Kids Need to Succeed: Four Foundations of Adult Achievement now available on Amazon.com

For more information about the Four Foundations, or to book Andrea to speak to your group, please visit http://www.whatkidsneedtosucceed.com







Related News



Farah Hospital hosts Jordan’s Pioneering Parenting Program - Al-Bawaba

Farah Hospital hosts Jordan’s Pioneering Parenting Program
Al-Bawaba, Jordan -Aug 27, 2008
Farah Hospital, Jordan’s leading hospital specializing in fertility, recently hosted and for the second consecutive time Jordan’s leading parenting program ...

Successful co-parenting after a divorce - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Successful co-parenting after a divorce
St. Louis Post-Dispatch,  United States -Aug 28, 2008
They decided they wanted to share custody and parenting. "We didn't want him to feel abandoned by either parent, and we knew how hard it was going to be ...

Denver rules: A guide to parenting, the Democratic Convention way - Globe and Mail

Denver rules: A guide to parenting, the Democratic Convention way
Globe and Mail, Canada -34 minutes ago
"Kids," I said, in the gentle, wise, mentoring way that a parent should speak to a child. "I've been listening to the Democrats give speeches. ...

The Observer - Sarnia Observer

The Observer
Sarnia Observer,  Canada -6 hours ago
As part of the Cross Canada Crusade to Support Equal Parenting after Divorce, F4J Ontario Director Denis Van Decker said the goal is to push for changes to ...
Posted By SHAWN GIILCK, ENTERPRISE-BULLETINCollingwood Enterprise Bulletin
all 2 news articles

Parents need to grow up - NEWS.com.au

Parents need to grow up
NEWS.com.au, Australia -Aug 28, 2008
By Susie O'Brien PARENTS need to grow up if they want to raise their kids successfully, a new book says. Well-known Melbourne psychologist John Cheetham ...

For mothers in prison, children can be key to rehabilitation, with ... - Boston Globe

Boston Globe

For mothers in prison, children can be key to rehabilitation, with ...
Boston Globe, United States -Aug 27, 2008
Although the report, "Parenting from Prison: Family Relationships of Incarcerated Women in Massachusetts," found that progress has been made in recent years ...


Faith and Spiritual Life: Outreach - HeraldNet

Faith and Spiritual Life: Outreach
HeraldNet, WA -1 hour ago
Seminars focus on parenting, marriage and life issues for new and longtime believers. Topics include "I Love You More: How Everyday Problems Can Strengthen ...
Faith and Spiritual Life: Programs and EventsHeraldNet
all 2 news articles

Struggles of single parenting - Waseca County News

Waseca County News

Struggles of single parenting
Waseca County News, MN -6 hours ago
Bjerklie’s parents, who live in Bjerklie’s hometown of Fergus Falls, Minn., have a tight-knit relationship with Hannah, and Bjerklie also has brothers who ...

What it takes to be a good parent in today’s culture - The Prairie Star

What it takes to be a good parent in today’s culture
The Prairie Star, MT -8 hours ago
Quality of parenting is declining. It is not just the environment but the quality of parenting that is causing the difficulty. The decline in society can be ...

Parish needs more foster parents - Natchez Democrat

Parish needs more foster parents
Natchez Democrat, MS -3 hours ago
In that same region, there are approximately 200 foster parents. In Concordia Parish, there are only 10 foster parents, but there are 30 foster children in ...