Thanks for expounding on your parenting philosophy. You got me thinking about engineering challenges that are in my son’s stretch zone so that he can fail. To orchestrate failure instead of being stumped by it by chance. Not sure how I can do that, though, but it is deserving of a think or two.

Another thing I’m reminded of is my country’s infamous Primary School Leaving Examination. All sixth graders have to take this nationwide exam in order to qualify for a secondary school that they prefer. It’s like the younger version of the SAT. Needless to say, stakes are high, teachers and tutors teach to the test, and some parents even take No Pay Leave to marshal their kiddos through the exam. Of course, some kids don’t perform well for various reasons (aptitude, exam nerves, learning needs etc) and their world (along with that of their parents) gets crushed.

Since my son will join this academic arms race next year, I need to remind myself that if he doesn’t excel in the PSLE, he would have still learnt other invaluable lessons about success and failure.