Want to raise kids with grit? The mindset to weather difficulties—the passion and perseverance to push through challenges to achieve long–term goals.

Check out the short Ted Talk by Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., below to learn more about grit and its importance.

Grittiness is one of the most significant predictors of success—more than talent and I.Q. combined. And today, we know a little more about how to help kids develop it.

Below are twenty-one quotes illustrating how to raise kids with grit.

Quotes on Raising Kids with Grit

Quote 1: My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it. – Clarence Budington Kelland

Kids don’t learn grit through lectures—they learn it by watching how you respond to challenges. If they see you keep going when things get tough, they learn that perseverance is normal—not something special or rare. They model their mindset after yours.

Quote 2: The attitude you have as a parent is what your kids will learn. They don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember who you are. – Inspired by Jim Henson

You don’t need the perfect words. Your tone, your reactions, your effort—all of that teaches your kids how to handle life. If you stay calm during stress or keep trying after a failure, your kids pick up on that. Grit is caught, not taught.

Quote 3: Children have this way of becoming who we tell them they are. If we tell them they are strong, they become strong. If we tell them they are kind, they become kind. If we tell them they are capable, they become capable. Speak life into your kids, so they will have what it takes to tackle their own life one day. – Amy Weatherly

A child’s sense of identity forms early, and it shapes what they believe they can handle. If you consistently speak strength and capability into them, they begin to believe they can face difficulty. Kids who see themselves as capable are more likely to persist through setbacks.

Quote 4: My teacher once told me, “You’re going to do big things.” It made me feel 10 feet tall. I’ve remembered his words during the darkest lows and the highest highs. I always knew he believed in me—and that helped me believe in myself. Never underestimate the power of words. – Leslie Means

Encouragement doesn’t just boost confidence—it builds a child’s narrative about who they are. One meaningful comment can echo in a child’s mind for years, especially during hard times. That belief becomes a foundation for grit.

Quote 5: Don’t tell your kids, “I’m proud of you,” tell them, “You should be proud of yourself.” – Kristen Welch

If a child only works for adult approval, they’ll stop trying when no one’s watching. But if they learn to feel pride in their own effort, they develop the inner motivation that keeps them going—even when it’s hard and no one’s clapping.

Quote 6: Don’t waste a lot of time and money pushing kids in directions they don’t want to go. Instead, find out what weirdness they excel at and encourage them to do that. Then get out of the way. – Seth Godin

Passion drives perseverance. When kids are forced down a path that doesn’t fit, they resist. But if they’re encouraged to pursue what they love, they’ll stick with it through struggle. Grit is more likely to grow where there’s natural interest.

Quote 7: Instead of focusing on making your child’s life easier, help them recognize they are capable of handling hard things. – @dr.siggie

It’s natural to want to protect your child from struggle, but doing so sends the message they can’t handle it. When kids are trusted to face hard things—with your support—they learn to believe in their own strength, which builds resilience.

Quote 8: Self-esteem can’t be given or received. It’s developed through a sense of capability and the self-confidence gained from dealing with disappointments, solving problems, and having lots of opportunities to learn from mistakes. – Inspired by Jane Nelson

Real confidence doesn’t come from praise—it comes from doing. Each time a child faces something hard, learns from a mistake, or bounces back from disappointment, they gain proof they can handle life. That’s how grit and self-esteem grow.

Quote 9: If we’re not preparing our kids for the small challenges while they are young, how will they ever be prepared for the larger challenges and losses we all face as adults? – Brandon & Pace Verner

Struggles in childhood aren’t just bumps in the road—they’re training grounds. When kids are allowed to work through minor issues now, they build the emotional muscles they’ll need to handle bigger ones later. Grit grows in layers.

Quote 10: If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach them to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning. That way, their children don’t have to be slaves to praise. They will have a lifelong way to build and repair their own confidence. – Carol Dweck

Kids who are obsessed with praise often avoid challenges—because failure feels like the end. But if we teach them that effort matters most, they’ll start to value learning over looking good. That shift is at the heart of grit.

Quote 11: By loving them for more than their abilities, we show our children that they are much more than the sum of their accomplishments. – Eileen Kennedy-Moore

When kids feel valued only for their accomplishments, failure becomes terrifying. But if they know they’re loved no matter what, they’re more likely to take risks, try again, and keep growing. That emotional safety is key to building grit.

Quote 12: When we give them permission to fail, we give them permission to be brave. – Karen Young

Kids can’t be brave if they’re afraid of disappointing you. But when you normalize failure, you give them the freedom to take risks. Grit isn’t about never falling—it’s about learning to get back up without shame.

Quote 13: When we shield children from failure or choreograph success for them, we’re distorting the experiences they need in order to grow. – Madeline Levine, Ph.D.

Struggle is how kids develop coping skills. When we step in too often, we deny them the practice they need to manage stress, problem-solve, and build confidence. Protecting them from all hardship actually makes them more fragile.

Quote 14: Let them fail. Life is not always going to be kind, and they won’t always reach their goals or achieve what they want but learning how to deal with these failures is a critical life lesson. They have to develop the internal drive and grit to not let these setbacks permanently undermine them. When they fail but then dust themselves off and get back up to face their next challenge, it helps them recognize their own strength and resilience. – Parenting Teens & Tweens

Failure teaches grit, but only if kids experience it firsthand. When they learn they can survive disappointment, it builds strength and a sense of control. Each time they rise again, they become more resilient.

Quote 15: Teach your kids that: Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it’s the courage to continue that counts. – Winston A. Churchill

Grit isn’t about one big win—it’s about staying the course. Kids need to know that setbacks don’t define them and success isn’t a finish line. What really matters is showing up again tomorrow.

Quote 16: Got a 2.4 GPA my first semester in college. Thought maybe I wasn’t cut out for engineering. Today, I’ve landed two spacecrafts on Mars and am designing one for the moon. STEM is hard for everyone. Grades ultimately aren’t what matters. Curiosity and persistence matter. – Ben Cichy

Early struggles don’t mean kids aren’t cut out for something. Grit means sticking with a goal despite early failure. What predicts long-term success isn’t talent—it’s determination and a willingness to keep learning.

Quote 17: It is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings. – Ann Landers

Doing things for your child might help today—but teaching them to do it themselves builds long-term grit. Kids feel more capable when they can take ownership of their world, one step at a time.

Quote 18: Most of us will perform best at any job or role when we are entrusted with it rather than over-managed, doubted, or nit-picked. Children are no different. – Janet Lansbury

Micromanagement signals, “I don’t trust you.” Autonomy says, “You’ve got this.” Grit flourishes when kids are trusted to try, fail, and try again—without fear of being constantly corrected or doubted.

Quote 19: Raise your kids with the strength to know what they stand for, yet the humility to listen, learn, and grow. – Unknown

Grit doesn’t mean being stubborn. It means knowing when to stand firm and when to learn something new. Kids need both courage and curiosity to grow into strong, adaptable adults.

Quote 20: Strong-willed kids become adults who change the world as long as we can hang on for the ride and resist the temptation to “tame” the spirit out of them. – Unknown

That intensity you see in your child? It’s not a flaw—it’s fuel. Gritty kids often start as spirited ones. The key is helping them channel that energy, not squash it.

Quote 21: If I get one thing right in this parenting gig, I want my children to understand how their actions impact others. I want them to always think about what they can offer the world instead of what they can get from it. And I hope they always remember they are a part of something bigger than themselves. – Whitney Fleming

Purpose gives grit its direction. When kids believe they matter—that their actions affect others—they’re more likely to keep going, even when life gets hard. It’s not just about achieving. It’s about contributing.

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Why do some kids bounce back after setbacks while others seem to struggle? The answer lies in resilience—a child’s ability to adapt and grow stronger in the face of adversity.

In psychology, resilience is often defined as the ability to adapt well during stress, trauma, or hardship. And in today’s world, nurturing resilience in kids is more critical than ever.

The 7 Cs of Resilience

Developed by pediatrician and resilience expert Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, the 7 Cs are key building blocks that help children develop the strength they need to navigate life’s ups and downs. Here’s how you can support each one:

#1: Competence

Developing competence builds the foundation for resilience. When children recognize their strengths and abilities, they begin to see themselves as capable of handling whatever life throws at them.

You can help your child feel competent by nurturing their unique talents, praising effort over outcome, and giving them space to try—and sometimes fail—on their own. These experiences boost self-esteem and encourage them to step outside their comfort zone, growing new skills in the process.

#2: Confidence

Confidence empowers kids to explore new challenges and bounce back from failure. It gives them the belief that they can face hard things and keep going.

Support confidence by giving children opportunities to try age-appropriate tasks on their own. Celebrate effort, not just results, and remind them that mistakes are a natural part of learning. Confidence is essential to building long-term resilience.

#3: Connection

Connection is one of the most powerful protective factors when building resilience. Feeling supported gives children the emotional anchor they need to face tough times.

Help kids develop a sense of belonging by connecting them with peers and mentors through clubs, sports, youth groups, or school activities. A child who feels seen, loved, and accepted is more likely to weather emotional storms with strength.

#4: Coping

Healthy coping skills help kids manage stress, solve problems, and regulate emotions—all critical components of resilience.

You can support coping by modeling calm responses to stress, teaching kids healthy tools like deep breathing, journaling, or movement, and giving them chances to practice. When children have access to these tools, they’re better prepared to face life’s inevitable challenges.

#5: Control

Kids who believe they have some control over their lives are more likely to engage, make decisions, and take ownership of their outcomes. This sense of agency is a major contributor to resilience.

Give your child choices and involve them in decisions where appropriate. Creating opportunities for kids to problem-solve and make meaningful decisions builds critical thinking skills and increases their sense of capability.

#6: Character

Character is shaped by knowing what you stand for and choosing to act in alignment with your values. It’s the moral compass that helps kids stay grounded, even in tough situations.

You can help your child build character by talking about your family’s values, recognizing acts of kindness and integrity, and emphasizing empathy. Kids with strong character are better able to make decisions that reflect who they want to be—even under pressure.

#7: Contribution

When kids feel that they matter and can make a difference, they’re more likely to believe they have a place in the world. This belief reinforces confidence, connection, and a resilient mindset.

Encourage contribution through volunteering, helping others, or simple acts of kindness. When we thank kids for their efforts and highlight the good they bring to others, we show them they’re not just recipients of care—they’re capable of giving it, too.

Building Resilience—One Day at a Time

Resilience isn’t something kids are born with—it’s something we build together, through daily actions, encouragement, and trust. By focusing on the 7 Cs, we create the conditions where children not only bounce back—but soar.

Need Support?

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) provides a wide range of mental health care to build resilience in kids and families. Contact us online to get involved today.

Want More?

Check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

For some, the topic of childhood trauma is still taboo. If we told you experiences growing up could impact your long-term health, would you believe us?

Understanding the Long-Term Impact of Childhood Trauma

For those of us working in human services, the idea that trauma can affect your mental and physical health is nothing new. But for those outside the field, it may sound unfamiliar—or even far-fetched.

The ACE Study: Groundbreaking Research That Changed Everything

In the mid to late ’90s, the link between childhood trauma and adult health came into the spotlight. In collaboration with the CDC, Kaiser Permanente conducted a study with over 17,000 participants that shook the medical and mental health communities.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study revealed a clear, powerful connection between early trauma and lifelong health outcomes—ranging from obesity and cancer to addiction and early death.

What Are ACEs?

The study identified six main categories of adverse experiences:

1. Experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect
2. Witnessing violence in the home or community
3. Having a family member attempt or die by suicide
4. Substance misuse in the household
5. Mental health challenges in the household
6. Family instability due to separation, divorce, or incarceration

Each experience counts as one point toward an ACE score. The more points someone has, the higher their risk for serious health issues later in life.

More than 60% of people report at least one ACE.

Curious about your ACE score? Take the quiz.

Can Trauma Really Make You Physically Sick?

Yes—research shows that the body remembers. Chronic stress in childhood can alter brain development, hormone levels, immune response, and more. Over time, these changes increase the risk for a wide range of physical and mental health conditions.

But Trauma Doesn’t Define You

Here’s what’s important: trauma may increase risk, but it doesn’t guarantee poor outcomes. Protective factors can dramatically change the trajectory of a child’s life.

These include:

• A child’s individual strengths and unique personality traits
• Supportive family and community networks
• Safe environments
• And most of all—at least one caring adult

How You Can Be a Protective Factor

Our time with children is critical. Your steady presence matters whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or mentor. Watching a movie, making dinner together, or simply showing up can be healing.

If you work in the helping field, your impact is real. You’re building stronger families and creating a safety net for vulnerable youth—shielding them from the weight of trauma.

Want to Help? You’re Needed More Than Ever

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, this is your sign. We’re always looking for caring adults to become mentors, foster parents, mental health workers, and more.

Visit our foster care or career pages to learn how you can make a difference.

Need Help for a Child in Your Life?

Trauma doesn’t always show up in obvious ways—it can hide in behavior, anxiety, sleep problems, or even physical illness. But there is help.

Each year, we deliver mental health care to thousands of children and families through our locations across Montana. If a child in your life needs support, contact us online today.

Want More?

Check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

“There are no shortcuts to excellence. Developing real expertise, figuring out really hard problems—it all takes time—longer than most people imagine. Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you’re willing to stay loyal to it. It’s doing what you love, but not just falling in love—staying in love.” – Angela Duckworth

What if doing well in school and life depends on much more than just our ability to learn quickly and easily?

Well, that’s just what Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., found in her groundbreaking research on grit over a decade ago! She studied everyone from grade school students to West Point Military Academy cadets—even partnering with private companies to explore who stayed and excelled in challenging roles such as sales.

Her work found that the most significant factor for success across settings wasn’t IQ, physical health, social intelligence, or good looks. It was grit!

In one study done with Chicago public school students, Angela found that kids scoring high on a grit scale questionnaire were significantly more likely to graduate—even when matched against characteristics like:

• Family income
• Standardized achievement test scores
• And even how safe kids feel when they are at school

Angela’s Ted Talk, featured at the beginning of this article, was filmed in 2013. Today, we know much more about grit and how to foster it in kids, adults, organizations, and communities.

How gritty are you?

Click here to find out! And to learn more about grit and how to grow it in yourself and others, check out Angela Duckworth’s book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.

Want more?

Did you find this article helpful? If so, check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

Do you have experience navigating stress? I bet your answer’s yes. I mean, who doesn’t? It’s unavoidable in today’s world. But there are things we can do to mitigate it.

Below are thirteen quotes on the journey through stress and how to traverse it successfully.

13 Quotes on Navigating Stress

Quote 1: I am so emotionally drained. I can feel myself shutting down. – Unknown

Quote 2: I will simply breathe, and it will be okay because I don’t quit. – Unknown

Quote 3: Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is rather than as you think it should be. – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Quote 4: Stress acts as an accelerator: it will push you either forward or backward, but you choose which direction. – Chelsea Erieau

Quote 5: Stress is not what happens to us. It is our response to what happens. And response is something we can choose. – Maureen Killoran

Quote 6: The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. – William James

Quote 7: It’s not stress that kills us. It’s our reaction to it. – Hans Selye

Quote 8: It’s not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it. – Lou Holtz

Quote 9: Stress is the inability to decide what’s important. – Unknown

Quote 10: You can do anything—but not everything. – David Allen

Quote 11: The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule but to schedule your priorities. – Stephen Covey

Quote 12: In stressful times, it’s okay to not be perfect. It’s okay to cut yourself some slack. Because right now, you might not be your best self. But you are growing, and you are trying your best, and that is good enough. – Ashley Hetherington

Quote 13: I will breathe. I will think of solutions. I will not let my worry control me. I will not stress myself out about things I can’t control or change. – Shayne McClendon

Want More?

Check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.