Gift of Grit

“Hug your kids and kiss their boo-boos, at least until you have to step back so they can develop grit. “          Seattle Times columnist Jerry Large presents the idea that character, a key component to a child’s success, is in fact a learned quality. That is to say, character can actually be taught. Although the column itself is rather short, Jerry gets his message across rather well and presents the idea that while it is perfectly fine to show affection to your children throughout their lives, the excessive coddling must stop early enough for them to gain the courage to peek out from behind their mothers skirt and face the real world.   A key component to character is grit; the ability to role with the punches, stand your ground, and make your own way.           Grit in relation to students K-12 is a tricky balance. We must know when to “cut them off,” so to speak, and let the students have the necessary freedom to learn for themselves, while maintaining encouragement and support all the while. If we are able to achieve this balance, grit (and in turn, character) will surely develop.