Book Review: Allow Your Child To Fail If You Want Them To Succeed, by Dr. Avril Beckford
For some parents the slogan, “Failure is not an option,” is their mantra. But in her new book, “Allow Your Children to Fail if You Want Them to Succeed”, Dr. Avril Beckford, an Atlanta pediatrician, tells parents that it’s okay for our kids to fail. In fact, failure will ultimately lead to success. The book provides parents with proven tools and methods that the doctor has used in her 20 years of professional practice.
The book is different from a lot of parenting books on the market because it actually encourages parents to be comfortable with failure. The author’s theory is that in doing so children will “soar and reach even greater potential because they are free of the fear of failure.”
Beckford also provides parents with the tools necessary to help their children succeed in life. One way is by loving them unconditionally. We have to let our kids know that no matter what they do, we still love them and always will. She further encourages parents to accept their kids for who they are and to hold them accountable for their actions.
The focus of the book is to teach parents how to raise responsible, independent and resilient children. Children with character who will grow up to become positive, contributors to society.
Beckford also feels that parents and teachers should be partners in helping kids reach the highest levels of success that they can. She encourages parents to give children the opportunity to, and in fact to encourage them to, make mistakes. She says that the shame of failure is a normal part of growth, development and learning.
The book also tells parents how to relieve stress in children. Finally, Beckford encourages the use of methods that empower kids to take ownership of their actions and to accept the natural consequences of these actions.
See also:
Acknowledge Small Steps Your Kids Make