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n many classrooms, results steal the spotlight. But at home, you can make effort the star. Ancient thinkers built their ideas through mistakes and persistence, not perfection. When you praise attempts instead of outcomes, you teach your child to keep going—not because they know the answer, but because they trust the process.

One weekend, my son hunched over a half-finished model, frustration building. I pointed out how he kept adjusting, not giving up. That shift in focus steadied him—he returned to the problem with more intention. When the model finally held, his grin said more than any grade could. He wasn’t just proud of finishing—he was proud of the work it took to get there.

Recognizing persistence builds the kind of confidence that doesn’t vanish after a wrong answer. During daily tasks, highlight what they’re trying, not just what they’ve solved. Those habits—of sticking with problems and learning from missteps—turn into lasting strengths, useful in every challenge they face.

TIPS

• Say “Great try!” to encourage persistence.

• Focus on their process, not just outcomes.

• Share your own efforts to model resilience.

ACTIVITIES

• Build Talk: During a project, ask, “What did you try today?” Discuss for 10 minutes to praise effort.
• Push Talk: After a task, ask, “What kept you going?” Discuss for 15 minutes to encourage resilience.