There was a culture that came out of the self-esteem…
“There was a culture that came out of the self-esteem movement which was don't anybody keep track of the goals. The kids keep track, but nobody keep track of the goals because we don't want the kids to have the experience of losing. And in depriving them losing, thinking it scarred them to lose, we made losing so taboo, so unspeakable, that we instead made losing more scary to kids, not less scary.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage critiques the over‑protective “no‑failure” mindset of the self‑esteem movement, arguing that shielding kids from loss makes failure more terrifying and hampers resilience.
In simple terms: Protecting kids from failure makes loss scarier.
Key Takeaway
Allow children to experience loss to build resilience.
Themes
education
psychology
parenting
resilience
failure
Mood
thoughtful
encouraging
Type
psychological
educational
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- parental guidance
- youth mentorship
Key Concepts
growth mindset
emotional development
risk taking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance encouragement with realistic challenges?
- What practices help children learn from setbacks?
A Different Perspective
Over‑protectiveness can stunt emotional growth.