Mistakes Are Magic: Helping Kids Learn and Grow Through Mistakes
At The Bubble Bus, we believe that mistakes are more than just bumps in the road—they’re essential steps on the path to learning. When children feel safe to try, fail, and try again, they build resilience, creativity, and self-confidence. Rather than something to avoid, mistakes become opportunities to explore, reflect, and improve.
Children are naturally curious and experimental. Supporting them as they encounter and navigate mistakes helps develop a mindset that says, "I can learn from this" rather than "I’m not good at this." This attitude prepares them for lifelong learning and problem-solving.
What Do the Experts Say?
Carol Dweck, psychologist and author of Mindset, introduced the idea of a "growth mindset"—the belief that abilities can be developed through effort and perseverance. She found that when children view mistakes as part of the learning process, they become more motivated and resilient.
Alfred Adler, early childhood theorist and founder of individual psychology, believed that encouragement, not correction, helps children gain confidence. Mistakes are seen as valuable learning tools rather than sources of shame.
John Dewey, philosopher and educator, famously said, "Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes." Dewey’s approach placed experience—and trial and error—at the heart of learning.
These experts remind us that how we respond to mistakes is just as important as the mistake itself.
Encouraging Resilience and Problem-Solving at Home
Supporting your child’s ability to learn from mistakes starts with a few mindful habits:
Model making mistakes: Let your child see you make small errors—and calmly correct them. Say, “Oops! I forgot the shopping list. That’s okay, I’ll write it again.”
Celebrate effort: Focus on the process rather than the outcome. Praise perseverance and creativity: “You tried a different way—that’s great problem-solving!”
Talk about challenges: Ask your child, “What was tricky today?” and help them reflect without judgement.
Use books and stories: Choose stories where characters face setbacks and keep going. Discuss how they solved problems and what they learned.
Create safe spaces for trying: Allow room for trial and error in play, art, and problem-solving. Avoid rushing in with a solution.
These habits help children build confidence in their ability to recover, adapt, and keep going.
At The Bubble Bus
At The Bubble Bus, we create an environment where mistakes are welcomed as a natural and celebrated part of learning:
At The Bubble Bus, our sessions are full of moments where children are encouraged to test ideas, try things out, and approach challenges with confidence. Across all our programmes—from creative projects and imaginative play to group activities and problem-solving games—children learn that getting something wrong isn’t the end, it’s a new beginning.
Whether they’re painting boldly, exploring a new way to stack blocks, or working out the rules of a group game, children are gently supported by educators who celebrate their effort and experimentation. Rather than correcting missteps, we guide children to reflect, try again, or think differently—helping them build resilience in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.
Through play, storytelling, and reflection, we help children understand that mistakes are not a stopping point—they’re a springboard. At The Bubble Bus, we celebrate every try, every tumble, and every triumph as part of the joyful process of growing and learning.
