Once a baby comes into the world, it becomes a parent’s innate desire to protect and support him as he grows. Life has completely changed -now someone’s life depends on you to grow and develop happily. This new responsibility is not a burden; it is something you are willing to do out of love. However, this inherent vow to protect your baby from any harm does not mean you should go over the top and guard him from any possible setback or failure. It means letting them fail safely.
Nevertheless, letting children fail safely is easier said than done. As time goes by, many parents have started to believe that “more” is better. For example, giving “more” praise, helping out “more”, so they don’t feel stressed, and the list goes on. Although they have the best intentions, these actions actually backfire. Many parents have a difficult time watching their children “fail”. And who could blame them? All you want to do is see your children succeed, so how could you stand seeing your child struggle? How can you not intervene when you see he is stressed out, sad or anxious by not being able to complete a task? Where are parents supposed to draw the line?
The ideal parent is one who is involved and responsible, but respects his child’s autonomy. Although it may feel uncomfortable, parents need to let their children make mistakes. In fact, letting them learn from their mistakes and failure helps children build resilience –which is an essential part in raising a confident, happy, and successful adult!