Catch Them Young | Anthony Passalacqua | TEDxElmPark

Core Argument - Protecting children's space to experience boredom, struggle, and failure, within age-appropriate limits and with supportive adults, is crucial for fostering curiosity, creativity, and innovation [1] - The traditional approach of shielding children from negative experiences hinders their development of resilience and problem-solving skills [6] - Adults often intervene too early and too frequently, preventing children from learning from their experiences [7] Practical Strategies for Adults - Emphasize celebrating progress over perfection to encourage effort and perseverance [9][10] - Allow children to navigate through struggles, as this is where they learn how they learn best [11] - Model personal imperfections and demonstrate how to handle struggles and failures [12] - Practice being fully present with children by making eye contact, asking quality questions, and engaging with them during moments of boredom and struggle [13] The Value of Failure - Failure should be normalized and viewed as feedback rather than a final outcome [8] - Experiencing failure and recovery helps children become less afraid of it [8] - Supportive adults help children find success within the struggle, fostering strength and resilience [14]