Does your child show a willingness to take risks?

Learning is all about taking risks.

Unfortunately, many children are afraid of making mistakes and trying something new and are therefore unwilling to take risks. This holds many children back from learning in the classroom.

So how can you help your child feel more comfortable taking risks?

• Model what it looks like to take a risk or try something new.

• Tell them about when you were a kid and tried something new that felt scary.

• Acknowledge that learning and trying new things can be hard, and that's ok!

  • The space between knowing something and not knowing something is challenging. That's the sign of learning and growth. I like to tell my students that when something feels hard, it means their brain is growing.

• Help them practice taking risks and being there to support them through it.

  • Instead of stepping in and doing things for them, encourage them to try on their own while you cheer them on.

Bottom Line:

The more comfortable your child is with the uncomfortable feeling of taking risks, the easier it will be for for them to persevere when something feels hard and not get too down on themselves when they don't immediately succeed. The earlier you start practicing this with your child, the more natural it will be for them!