--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Children need encouragement. If a kid…" description: "\"Children need encouragement. If a kid gets an answer right, tell him it was a lucky guess. That way he develops a good, lucky feeling.\" — Jack Handey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/jack-handey-829_answers_children-need-encouragement-if-a-kid-get_2936460.jpg" --- # Children need encouragement. If a kid gets an answer… ![“Children need encouragement. If a kid gets an answer right, tell him it was a lucky guess. That way he develops a good, lucky feeling.” quote by Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/jack-handey-829_answers_children-need-encouragement-if-a-kid-get_2936460.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/jack-handey-829_answers_children-need-encouragement-if-a-kid-get_2936460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/jack-handey-829_answers_children-need-encouragement-if-a-kid-get_2936460.jpg) > “Children need encouragement. If a kid gets an answer right, tell him it was a lucky guess. That way he develops a good, lucky feeling.” [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encouraging children with praise for lucky guesses builds confidence and a positive association with effort. **In simple terms:** Praise for luck builds confidence. Key Takeaway Reward effort, not just outcomes. Themes confidence motivation learning selfesteem reinforcement Mood encouraging optimistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - classroom - parenting - coaching - sports training Key Concepts psychology behavioral conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance praise for luck and skill? - What long‑term effects does this have on motivation? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on luck may undermine genuine skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Deep thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-thought/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Encouragement Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement-kid-919036/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Good luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-luck/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Lucky Guess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky-guess-948604/) [Need encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-encouragement/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Tell Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-lucky-2649174/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I benefited from tremendous encouragement as a kid. So many people reached out to me, helped me, and believed in me even when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-abbott/i-benefited-from-tremendous-encouragement-as-a-kid-so-many-people/) [Jim Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-abbott/) > [I won't tell you that I'm lucky to be here because I know I'm skilled, and I know I'm talented in the ring. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-ali/i-won-t-tell-you-that-i-m-lucky-to-be-here-because-i-know-i-m-skilled/) [Mustafa Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-ali/) > [“Coming on command. That’s my girl, who does it when I tell her to. I’m such a lucky, lucky bastard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raine-miller/coming-on-command-that-s-my-girl-who-does-it-when-i-tell-her-to-i-m/) [Raine Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raine-miller/) > [I think people like it when I tell them, 'I'm lucky to be here, because they are, too. Ain't nothing to do with age.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-womack/i-think-people-like-it-when-i-tell-them-i-m-lucky-to-be-here-because/) [Bobby Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-womack/) > [“People always tell me how lucky I am that my kids are adventurous eaters, but I don’t believe that it’s luck at all. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/people-always-tell-me-how-lucky-i-am-that-my-kids-are-adventurous/) [Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/) > [All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/all-that-matters-in-business-is-that-you-get-it-right-once-then/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess? I pity you. I thought you cleverer; for depend upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/and-have-you-never-known-the-pleasure-and-triumph-of-a-lucky-guess-i-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess?—I pity you.—I thought you cleverer—for, depend upon it a lucky guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/and-have-you-never-known-the-pleasure-and-triumph-of-a-lucky-guess-i/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [A lucky guess is never merely luck. There is always some talent in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/a-lucky-guess-is-never-merely-luck-there-is-always-some-talent-in-it/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I'm lucky, I guess. I only really need five or so hours of sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-sloan/i-m-lucky-i-guess-i-only-really-need-five-or-so-hours-of-sleep/) [Cliff Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-sloan/) > [“Those boys. Nine times out of ten, they're wrong and the tenth time they made a lucky guess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirn-hans/those-boys-nine-times-out-of-ten-they-re-wrong-and-the-tenth-time/) [Kirn Hans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirn-hans/) > [I'm very optimistic. I'm happy-go-lucky, I guess. I try to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-butterfield/i-m-very-optimistic-i-m-happy-go-lucky-i-guess-i-try-to-be/) [Asa Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-butterfield/) > [I have no belief in The Bible or religion, but I think Armageddon was a lucky guess. I honestly think it's going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-have-no-belief-in-the-bible-or-religion-but-i-think-armageddon-was/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings, and strictly honest who complained of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) ## More by Jack Handey > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [At first I thought, if I were Superman, a perfect secret identity would be "Clark Kent, Dentist," because you could save money on tooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/at-first-i-thought-if-i-were-superman-a-perfect-secret-identity-would/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Sometimes I wonder if I'm patriotic enough. Yes, I want to kill people, but on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-i-wonder-if-i-m-patriotic-enough-yes-i-want-to-kill-people/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I don't understand people who say life is a mystery, because what is it they want to know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-don-t-understand-people-who-say-life-is-a-mystery-because-what-is/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [It's probably not a good idea to be chewing on a toothpick if you're talking to the president, because what if he tells a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/it-s-probably-not-a-good-idea-to-be-chewing-on-a-toothpick-if-you-re/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Probably to a shark, about the funniest thing there is is a wounded seal, trying to swim to shore, because WHERE DOES HE THINK…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/probably-to-a-shark-about-the-funniest-thing-there-is-is-a-wounded/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I wish I lived back in the Old West days, because I'd save up my money for about twenty years so I could buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-wish-i-lived-back-in-the-old-west-days-because-i-d-save-up-my-money/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Why do there have to be rules for everything? It's gotten to the point that rules dominate just about every aspect of our lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/why-do-there-have-to-be-rules-for-everything-it-s-gotten-to-the-point/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/most-people-don-t-realize-that-large-pieces-of-coral-which-have-been/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Here's a suggestion for a new animal, if some new ones get created or evolve: something that stings you, then laughs at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/here-s-a-suggestion-for-a-new-animal-if-some-new-ones-get-created-or/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [When you go ice-skating, try not to swing your arms too much, because that really annoys me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/when-you-go-ice-skating-try-not-to-swing-your-arms-too-much-because/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [When you go to a party at somebody's house, don't automatically assume that the drinks are free. Ask, and ask often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/when-you-go-to-a-party-at-somebody-s-house-don-t-automatically-assume/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [He was a cowboy, mister, and he loved the land. He loved it so much he made a woman out of dirt and married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/he-was-a-cowboy-mister-and-he-loved-the-land-he-loved-it-so-much-he/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [If you were a gladiator in olden days, I bet the inefficiency of how the gladiator fights were organized and scheduled would just drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-you-were-a-gladiator-in-olden-days-i-bet-the-inefficiency-of-how/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) [Explore all 358 Jack Handey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Children need encouragement. 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