Rethinking Parenting: Three Approaches to Letting Kids Learn From Failure

September 23, 2026 - 20:18

Entrepreneur and author Ankur Warikoo recently shared his perspective on a question many parents struggle with: should they step in every time a child makes a mistake? His answer leans toward restraint, and he outlines three parenting approaches he follows at home.

The first approach is to let children face the natural consequences of their choices. When a child forgets homework or mishandles money, rescuing them removes the lesson. The second is to separate emotion from instruction. A parent can offer comfort without erasing the outcome, which helps a child process disappointment instead of avoiding it. The third is to model decision-making out loud, showing how adults weigh options, accept trade-offs, and recover from poor calls.

Warikoo's point is not that parents should stand back entirely. Safety and serious harm still require intervention. The distinction lies in everyday setbacks, where the cost of failure is small but the learning is lasting.

By reducing pressure around conventional markers of success and building practical competence, parents can prioritise long-term emotional strength over short-term comfort. Children who are allowed to stumble in low-stakes moments tend to develop better judgment, resilience, and ownership of their actions. The goal is not to prevent every fall but to raise kids who know how to get back up.