Written by Chris Ebberwein, Ph.D.
How to handle mistakes presents one of the early challenges for parents. Authentic self-esteem doesn’t develop when mistakes are always dismissed as “okay.”
At the same time, yelling at children when they err teaches them to fear one of the normal parts of life.
A great perspective to teach children is, “Mistakes are for learning.”
Consistently teaching kids to take responsibility for and correct their mistakes helps them to accept the ups-and-downs of life, without aiming for perfectionism.
By not excusing the mistake away, the parent teaches that mistakes provide a chance to learn and grow.
Chris Ebberwein is a practicing psychologist in the Diocese of Wichita and a loving husband and father of 5 children. He, and his family are parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Wichita.
Be sure to also check out our Parent and Community Resource pages for more helpful resources and plan to attend our Equipping Parents Seminar on Saturday, November 2, 2024!
