10/24/2025
Helping Kids Turn Mistakes into Learning Opportunities
Today, I want to talk about mistakes.
As a child, I felt constant pressure—What happens if I make a mistake?
I feared that people would think I wasn’t good enough. I told myself things like:
I don’t pay attention.
I rush too much.
I’m the worst!
The list could go on…
When I made mistakes, I felt embarrassed. My face would turn red, my head would drop, and I wouldn’t have the courage to look people in the eyes.
Looking back, I realize this came from a lack of self-esteem and self-confidence.
It wasn’t until adulthood that I truly understood—mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow.
From that moment on, the pain, guilt, shame, and embarrassment I carried from past mistakes started to fade. I learned how to let them go…
The Impact of Mistakes on Children
When children don’t know how to handle mistakes, it can be detrimental to their self-esteem and confidence. They may feel guilt, sadness, or anger.
Did you know that humans are the only animals who relive mistakes over and over again, often beating themselves up in the process?
Imagine a lion thinking:
"Oh no! I jumped too soon at that zebra! I should have waited a little longer. Why didn’t I run faster? Now we won’t have anything to eat. I can’t believe I messed up—I’m such a loser!"
Sounds ridiculous, right? A lion moves on and looks for the next opportunity.
Maybe we can learn something from the lion!
Helping Kids Reframe Mistakes
When children see mistakes as learning opportunities, they shift from negative emotions back into their power.
Although we can’t undo mistakes, we can choose how we respond.
Sometimes, mistakes happen because of a bad decision—like cheating on a test or taking something that isn’t theirs. But it’s important to emphasize that making a bad choice doesn’t mean they are a bad person.
5 Steps for Managing Mistakes
In my coaching sessions, I teach kids how to manage mistakes in a healthy way.
Look for teachable moments to help your child learn from their mistakes:
✔️ When they make a mistake.
✔️ When they make excuses for their actions.
✔️ When they blame others.
✔️ When they are too hard on themselves.
And remind them:
Everyone makes mistakes—mistakes are an opportunity to learn!
I’d love to hear from you! How do you handle mistakes with your child? Email me back—I’d love to chat.
Until then,
Love & Blessings,
Camelia
