Failure: An Opportunity for Growth
During the month of May, our Spartan Start has embraced a Star Wars theme to engage students in learning first thing in the morning. Sprinkled throughout the slides, quotes from Star Wars are found. One of these quotes includes Yoda’s wise words, “The greatest teacher, failure is.” Our students even read an article about this quote! No one likes to fail, but failure in a healthy environment promotes growth.
Brain Development
During adolescence, the human brain grows at a significant rate similar to that of a baby growing into a toddler. Think of all the things a baby learns in the first two years: eating, talking, sitting up, crawling, walking, holding objects, etc. They are also impulsive and emotional. During this time, mistakes are made. With these mistakes, frustrations are sure to follow. This season is marked with tears and tantrums. With the love, support, and encouragement from caregivers, babies learn to work through their “failures” and meet their developmental milestones. This growth pattern is normal and healthy. As adolescents grow and develop from child to adult, they often revert back to the behaviors they displayed in early childhood. A 12-year-old throwing a tantrum looks just like a tantrum of a two-year-old! How do we support our children through this change? We create a loving, supportive, and encouraging environment just like when they were little.
Supporting Students
At Superior Middle School, we know and understand the developmental phase our students find themselves in. Hormones are raging, emotions are all over the place, and impulses take control of better judgment. The prefrontal cortex of the brain is growing and will continue developing well into the mid-20s. That’s a lot to handle! We offer support, encouragement, and training to help our students grow through this transition and equip them with the skills they need to be healthy, productive students ready for high school. One of these supports is our Reset and Return (R & R) room where students learn to think through their actions and respond appropriately through reflective discussion and skill-building. These conversations and skills foster growth toward healthy responses to life’s situations while exercising the prefrontal cortex.
Failure at Home
While students are growing and developing, they need to know they are loved and supported by their caregivers. Parents, your role is vital in guiding your children through adolescence. Psychologist Kevin Leman emphasizes, “Your home needs to be a place where your kids can fail—and learn from their failure” and “there's not a safer place for your child to fail, parents, than in your home.” Adolescents need to know you are there for them and are willing to listen to them. They need to know they are loved even when they make mistakes. Squeeze in quality conversations throughout your time together. Ask them about their day and their struggles. Offer support and unconditional love. This builds trust and ongoing dialog. Adolescents crave one on one attention with a parent, even for a few minutes. These moments add up and help your child grow as they navigate their world of development and the failures that come with it.
