Grit and Perseverance — with Angela Duckworth

Resilient Kids

Angela Duckworth shares insights on fostering resilience in children, emphasizing the importance of consistent effort and learning from role models. She highlights the value of repetition in achieving excellence, referencing John Wooden's laws of learning, which stress the importance of practice and perseverance 1. Duckworth also suggests that children benefit from having surrogate mentors, such as coaches or teachers, who can reinforce positive behaviors and values 2.

It's great to work hard, pick yourself up and be resilient, but why not do that in a river that's flowing in your direction?

--- Angela Duckworth

These mentors can provide guidance and motivation, often reinforcing lessons that parents have already tried to instill.

   

Grit & Self-Control

Duckworth delves into the psychological traits of grit and self-control, explaining how they are related yet distinct. Grit involves sustained effort towards long-term goals, while self-control focuses on resisting short-term temptations 3. She notes that environments play a crucial role in nurturing these traits, allowing individuals to express and develop their inherent grit 4.

Grit, which I'm probably a little better known for, is about expending effort toward very distant goals.

--- Angela Duckworth

Duckworth emphasizes that while genetics may influence these traits, they can be cultivated through supportive environments and deliberate practice.