Fear of failure is often linked to performance anxiety. It usually develops when kids are in Grade 1 and can manifest in different ways. For instance, they might draw blanks on tests or refuse to answer questions in class. As you might expect, this fear can get in the way of academic success. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it!
Some kids are terrified of failure. They seem to believe they’ll be punished every time they make a mistake or get an answer wrong. In reality, mistakes are part of what makes us human. Here are some things you can do to help your child cope with setbacks and come to see that they happen to everyone:
Consider asking your child to put their emotions into words the next time they feel anxious at the thought of making a mistake. This will give you a better sense of what they’re going through and what you can do to help.
There’s nothing unusual about feeling a little nervous before an exam. However, if your child reacts to being called on in class the same way they might to seeing a hungry T-Rex, it could be a sign that they struggle with anxiety. Here are some strategies that may help:
Anxiety can cause a wide range of symptoms, including stomach aches, nausea, insomnia, nightmares, and irritability. You can learn more about this topic in our article on performance anxiety.
Kids who doubt or lack confidence in their abilities are more likely to have a fear of failure. Fortunately, if this is true for your child, it’s not too late to take action. By adopting a supportive attitude, you can help raise their confidence and self-esteem. There are many ways to express your support:
Self-confidence goes hand in hand with academic motivation and success! Check out our article on this topic for more tips on helping your child do well in school.
Children often mirror adults, mimicking both positive and negative behaviours. If you’re highly self-critical and demand a lot of yourself (or of others), it’s possible your child will do the same. There are various steps you can take to prevent this from happening:
Sometimes, there’s nothing like a wrong answer or disappointing grade to ensure a better result the next time around. To help your child learn to turn mistakes to their advantage, encourage them to reflect when things don’t go as they’d hoped:
Learning to bounce back from minor setbacks will help equip your child to handle bigger challenges.
Rewriting: The Alloprof Parents’ team