Encourage your child to accept Criticism positively:-
“At every step, the child should be allowed to meet the real experience of life; the throne should never be plucked from his roses”- Ellen Key.
In class, mathematics teacher wrote a table of 8 on the board:-
8*1=8
8*2=16
8*3=24
8*4=32
8*5=40
8*6=48
8*7=56
8*8=64
8*9=72
8*10=79
After she finished she found students laughing at her. She inquired the reason to which everyone collectively said that she wrote the table wrong. Its 8*10=80, not 79.
Listening to this the teacher smiled and said I have purposely written the last line wrong to explain to you an important lesson in life. She explained, “I have written nine things right but sorry to say no one valued it. On the contrary, I made only one mistake and you all started laughing. That’s life! She continued, “These are few advice for everyone”-
a. Mistakes are different from failures. Failures never accept mistakes, whereas, winners accept their mistakes as a path towards excellence.
b. Train them the difference between constructive and destructive criticism.
c. Destructive criticism can lower their self-esteem, spirits, makes them livid or even antagonistic on the other hand, constructive criticism is explained as the expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults, defects or mistakes.
d. Don’t aim for perfectionism every time. Sometimes the child is so afraid of not meeting his/her or your expectations that they fear from trying new things.
e. During challenging situation instruct them to stay calm and not to respond to a critic in anger as it can create a negative influence on them and others. Take it as a learning experience.
f. Teach them to use criticism in a positive way to improve and grow as admitting when we are wrong and rectifying our mistake is not a sign of weakness but of a strong character.
g. If someone has pointed out your kid’s mistakes (and they are disheartened) instead of saying, “why can’t you understand’ or “why you can’t do anything right?” start with positive talk, “look son/daughter accept it and work on it.” This offers him/her opportunity for personal enhancement and learning.
Wow… such brilliant piece of advice. Let us all implement it in our lives.
