One day my daughter taught me a word she learned in Spanish and I responded, “One–nothing!” She looked at me, confused, and I explained, “Not knowing something means I can learn, and learning new things is awesome. I learned one thing just now so I get one point!” In this game, “winning” isn’t equated with being “perfect” or already knowing something, but instead with the process of learning. There’s something about making not-knowing into a “win” that gives kids permission to struggle and learn. This is huge for perfectionists.
