Finnish “failure education” is renowned worldwide. Finns believe that children willing to embrace failing are more likely to succeed. The method is quite simple: using one extreme to break another. While society often idolizes successful individuals and their teachings, it neglects the importance of allowing children to experience failure, which is essential for stepping out of their comfort zones.
Embracing failure for growth
In Chinese, there is a similar proverb: “Failure is the mother of success.” Only by bravely facing mistakes can one have a broader space for growth. Unfortunately, today, we have become a nation that lacks education on failure.
Despite having many successful people, events, and things, Finland does not rest on its laurels. On October 13, 2010, they took the unprecedented step of establishing an “International Day for Failure.” On this day, Finns encourage people worldwide to “expose their shortcomings.” Through various channels such as daily life, social media, and shopping, people can freely experience the taste of failing in their own way, releasing inner pressure and becoming unafraid of it.
The birth of International Day for Failure
The “International Day for Failure” was initially established by the entrepreneurship club of Aalto University, a prestigious Finnish institution with over a hundred years of history. It was initially popular only within the university. However, the students’ humorous interpretations of “failure” quickly gained widespread online support, making “showcasing failures” a trend. Some people mock their dietary indulgences, others share embarrassing photos of themselves or their children, and some even summarize their failures into insights.
Paasi Sahlberg, Director of the Finnish Ministry of Culture and Education’s International Exchange Center, believes that most schools and families only know how to educate children to succeed, not to fail. They never consider that succeeding and failing are not opposites but interdependent.
Swedish psychology professor Samuel West recently established a “Museum of Failure,” which exhibits many failed products from globally renowned companies, such as Colgate’s beef lasagna, Harley-Davidson’s perfume, and Coca-Cola’s coffee-flavored cola.
Learning from the process
Elina Uutela, president of the Aalto University entrepreneurship club, states that the exciting part of something is usually not the success itself but the arduous growth and transformation process. This training in absorbing positive energy from failing is precisely what many children lack today.
However, Finnish children learn about failing through skiing from as early as 4 or 5 years old. Contrary to many people’s beliefs, Finns think that the first lesson in skiing should be practicing falling, as falling is the most normal thing. Therefore, teachers demonstrate falling in front of students and then get up from the snow, encouraging students to fall in their own way.
In this way, children learn how to quickly get up after falling and understand that life is like skiing, where accidents and setbacks are normal. The key is to stand up again bravely.
Creating opportunities for failure
As children grow older, Finns create more opportunities for failure, such as challenging them to build rockets with materials and specifications they decide on their own. If they encounter difficulties, they can consult professionals hired by the school.
Adults can only observe during the process, and the children themselves must complete all planning. For instance, they put on a band-aid and continue cutting wood if they get injured. If their planning is insufficient, they keep improving, allowing children to increase in a challenging and frustrating environment. This challenge teaches children to quickly adjust when frustrated, regain their spirits, and continue improving until the rocket is completed.
Although it is not hard to imagine that most rocket models won’t fly, children learn how to adjust when frustrated, regain their spirits, and continue improving until the rocket is completed quickly.
Embracing imperfection
Looking around the world, countless people desire success, but those who can withstand failing are few and far between. Yet it is often the latter who ultimately achieves success. By letting go of the pursuit of “perfection” and “success,” perhaps we can also see new growth in ourselves and our children.
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