The Gift of Failure

By Jessica Lahey,

Book cover of The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed

Book description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“Gripping…how can teachers snatch back their critical role and give children the necessary space to fail? They could start by making parents read Lahey.” — New York Times Book Review

In the tradition of Paul Tough’s How Children Succeed and Wendy Mogel’s The Blessing of a…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked The Gift of Failure as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I loved this book because it questions some of the most deeply ingrained ideas we hold as a society about raising successful children.

It helped me embrace the challenges my children will face rather than fear them or try to prevent them, bringing more peace into my parenting.

Is your child experiencing setbacks? Difficulties? Mistakes? Failures? Do not fret! Author Jessica Lahey understands your concerns, and she shares why these kinds of challenges can be advantageous and serve as stepping-stones for children’s growing autonomy. In The Gift of Failure, she discusses the importance of encouragement, resilience, collaboration, and more as she explores different circumstances that children encounter. And, she provides many suggestions to help them reframe obstacles as opportunities. I think this book is, and will continue to be, an extremely relevant read for parents.

From Joanne's list on procrastination, motivation, and kids.

It’s hard to feel like you are being the parent you want to be when you feel like you are letting your child down. Jessica Lahey teaches us otherwise. Based on research and sharing personal experience, she convincingly teaches us the why and how of letting our children fail. She gives help for the business of daily life, turning failure into success for the long haul.

From Betsy's list on being the parents you want to be.

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