Can you teach children perseverance?

By Joni Downey on 3rd Apr 2020

Perseverance is a skill that can be taught. As adults, we learn through trial and error and we learn to cope and understand the importance of perseverance no matter how difficult a task may become or seem. Through perseverance we continue trying the task even though it seems difficult.

In my opinion and in the opinion of my character Do’er Duck, the ability to persevere is necessary to develop a mind set for success. Think about it, no one person can achieve accomplishments every time. With perseverance you discover new ideas, through setbacks and experiences and these will help you move forward in developing perseverance. When a setback occurs, and they do, we need to embrace this and to learn from the experience and discover new ways to move forward. This takes practice, too. We aren’t born with the yearning to just persevere when things get tough. Our first instinct is to quit. However, instead of walking away and persevering at the task at hand, we learn, we grow from the experience, and we can help others through similar difficulties knowing what worked or didn’t’ work in your own experience.

As a parent or an educator, teaching a child new language is important, having discussions on what it means to persevere is significant. Share stories of your own and use these as examples how at one time you didn’t think you would be able to accomplish your goal without persevering through it.

First, be patient with them. At first when attempting this new task your child may become frustrated with themselves, keep encouraging them to try again, and again, and again if need be. Maybe not all at once, take a break, tomorrow is another day. But, do get back on the horse!

Here are some thoughts to help teach a child perseverance though Do’er Duck who teaches our children to never give up:
1. Be patient
2. Be an encourager
3. Introduce small challenges to that they, extending their comfort zone
4. Share a story of yourself during a time that you persevered
5. Take a break if you must, but, do not quit

There is such a feeling of accomplishment when you persevere through a situation or a task. Teaching your child and introducing them to obstacles will help them cope and to put this skill into practice and to become better prepared to overcome the obstacles that present themselves. Through perseverance a child will internalize the feeling of accomplishment and perhaps look forward to the next challenge in life knowing that they will give it a try.

For more information, visit www.charactersofcharacter.org or watch Joni’s video here.

Related article: How to talk to children about character

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