---
title: ' Perspectives: Is it OK to let kids fail?'
description: "It may be hard to see kids fail, but they can sometimes benefit from failure and making mistakes. Experts share when, and why, it’s OK to let kids fail.\n"
slug: is-it-ok-to-let-kids-fail
author: The Understood Team
published: '2019-08-05T15:42:11.486Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/1Jo4ZoVYWAd4i13uvscThh/6b206fe9c5e578efda4ed048be1fa5ba/G1310582960.png
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/is-it-ok-to-let-kids-fail
lang: en
---

#  Perspectives: Is it OK to let kids fail?

Many kids who learn and think differently face challenges every day. So it can be hard to see them try something and fail, knowing they’ve already experienced other setbacks. 

Is it OK to let kids fail? And what can kids gain from experiencing failure? Here are answers from four Understood experts.

Learning from failure can build kids’ self-awareness and help them become better [self-advocates](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-importance-of-self-advocacy). But kids may need support to be more willing to take chances and make mistakes.

- Families: Find out what to say [when your child says “I can’t do it.”](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-to-say-when-child-says-i-cant-do-it) And help kids understand that [they can succeed even when they fail](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-kids-can-succeed-even-when-they-fail).
- Educators: Learn how [the right kind of praise](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/effective-praise-guide-for-teachers) can help your students be willing to try new things.

---

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