Be independent. Let your child do as much as possible for herself. Maybe her smoothie is lumpy or the gift she wraps is messy, but resist the urge to fix them. You’ll show her that you believe in her and that will help her believe in herself.
Find “lightbulb” moments. A comic-strip artist might draw a lightbulb to show that a character has a “bright” idea. When your youngster struggles to learn something (say, how to juggle), suggest that she draw a lightbulb and fill it with steps to success. Examples: “Learn to juggle scarves first.” “Juggle one ball at a time.”
Declare a “do-over”. Remind your child that a setback simply means she needs more practice. For instance, if she’s showing you how she can do a cartwheel but doesn’t land on her feet, declare a “do-over.” She’ll learn that it’s okay to try again and again.
Use self-motivation. Kids tend to stick with things they’re interested in, and that teaches them the rewards of perseverance. Steer your youngster toward projects that fit her passions. If she wants to design video games someday, you might help her find a coding class or an online tutorial.♥
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