Understanding Persistence

Persistence is the ability to keep going even when things get tough or frustrating. It’s a key skill that helps children build resilience, problem-solving skills, and confidence, which are essential for success in school and in life. But persistence isn’t something kids are born with; it develops over time through experience, encouragement, and seeing others model it.

As a parent or caregiver, your support and example are crucial in helping your child learn to face challenges without giving up.

At Surprise Powerz, we believe that every child has the power to grow through persistence—and that learning can be playful, positive, and full of encouragement.

Everyday Moments to Foster Persistence

You don’t need special lessons—persistence shows up naturally in daily life. Some moments to encourage it include:

• Completing a tricky puzzle: Let them explore different pieces without rushing.
  

• Learning to dress themselves: Celebrate their attempts with buttons, zippers, or shoelaces.
  

• Figuring out new toys or games: Allow time for experimentation and problem-solving.
  

Focus on praising effort and the process rather than just the finished result. This helps your child develop a growth mindset—the belief that abilities grow with effort.

Tips for Encouraging Persistence

Here are some simple, effective ways to nurture persistence at home:

• Praise effort, not just success: Say things like, “I love how you kept trying!” instead of only “Good job.”
  

• Share your own struggles: Talk about times you faced difficulties but kept going.
  

• Use positive self-talk tools: Talking dolls like Astro the Astronaut encourage positive phrases
  

• Normalize mistakes: Create a safe space where your child knows that getting it wrong is part of learning.
  

• Break challenges into steps: Guide children to achieve small wins along the way to build confidence.

Persistence Through STEM Play

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities are one of the most engaging ways to teach persistence. Trial and error is built into every STEM adventure—whether they’re:

• Building a tower that keeps falling
  

• Trying an experiment with unexpected results
  

• Debugging a beginner coding puzzle
  

These experiences teach that success doesn’t always come right away—and that’s okay. Surprise Powerz dolls like Codie the Coder, Vera the Vet, and Maria the Mathemagician are crafted to support STEM learning and social-emotional growth, like building persistence through fun, empowering play.

Why Persistence Matters

Teaching persistence early helps kids develop the confidence and resilience to face setbacks and keep going. Persistent children are more likely to embrace challenges, recover from disappointment, and keep pushing forward—skills that will serve them well in school, relationships, and future careers.

In today’s fast-changing world, the ability to persevere is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.

🔗 Explore STEM Dolls Codie the Coder®, Vera the Vet®, Astro the Astronaut®, and Maria the Mathemagician®
🔗 Download Our Free Early STEM Activity Guide