Grit! Not the kind that shows up as tiny muddy footprints all over our freshly mopped floors (thank you, children, and pets for that constant joy), but the kind of grit that everyone can’t stop talking about these days—the stuff that’s supposed to turn our darling little ones into resilient, never-give-up troopers.
It’s like every time I look at a child development article or get sucked into a TED talk, there it is again: “grit is the magical secret ingredient for producing future leaders, academic superstars, and, who knows, possibly the next Prime Minister.” But let’s break it down, shall we? What on earth is grit? And more to the point, can we actually help our kids develop it? Grit, that blend of passion and perseverance, has been touted as more crucial to success than raw brainpower. Imagine that. All those spelling tests and multiplication drills, and it turns out that what really matters is whether your kid has the determination to keep going when things get tough.
Now, the big question: are kids born with grit, or do they pick it up somewhere between naptime and soccer practice? The experts don’t quite agree, but one thing’s for sure—gone are the days of the “just suck it up” parenting model. We’ve become a bit obsessed with our kids’ happiness. I mean, hands up if you’ve ever catered to their toast shape preference. Oh yes, whether it’s cut into triangles, rectangles, or the ever-popular dinosaur shape (don’t even ask), we’re all in on the quest for harmony at breakfast. But where does that leave us when there is the announcement that they don’t like gymnastics today—not because they have lost interest but because, “Mum, I’m just tired”? And you get that look as if the solution should be obvious: cancel gymnastics.
Let’s be honest; some days, they do need a break, but quitting entirely? That’s where we step in, I reckon. Grit isn’t something you teach like multiplication tables; it’s something kids develop when we nudge them a little further out of their comfort zone. You might recognise this as the painful experience of paying for a 10-week gymnastics course only to have your child lose all enthusiasm by week three. Or worse—like that time I caved and bought a horse (a whole horse), only for my kids to suddenly lose their interest in riding entirely. I swear, it took them two weeks to even notice the horse was gone.
Helping our kids develop grit is really about teaching them to persevere when it’s hard, whether it’s reading that really tricky book or sticking with the times tables. Sure, there are loads of clever new ways to teach maths these days, but I shudder whenever I see ads promising “quick and easy” methods to make kids math geniuses. It just doesn’t work that way! Grit, like multiplication, is one of those non-negotiables—you’ve got to dig in and work for it.
And yes, as parents, we are very much along for the ride. There are no cheat codes in this game called parenthood, and most days, it takes a healthy dose of grit for us too—sticking with it through the meltdowns, the backtalk, and the exhausting extra-curriculars. So next time your child says they’re tired and wants to quit, remember: this is the start of that famous grit everyone’s raving about.
As I always say we don’t have a crystal ball, so trust the process and enjoy the ride. Have a fabulous week ahead mopping those gritty floors x