Hi there, Alex here.
I was just watching my son, Fedor, practicing his guitar, and he was getting a little down on himself.
Sound familiar?
As parents, we’ve all seen that slump – the furrowed brow, the sigh, the ‘I can’t do it’ attitude.
It’s tough to watch, especially when they were so excited to start playing.
You know, the research we’ve done here at Kind Guitar really hits home on this.
One of the biggest reasons kids give up on the guitar is that they don’t feel like they’re getting any better.
It’s not just about the sore fingers or the tricky chords; it’s that nagging sense of ‘why bother?’ if you’re not seeing progress.
And as a parent, I can tell you, that emotional piece is huge.
But here’s the good news: there are things we can do to fix that!
Celebrating those small victories, no matter how tiny they seem, can make a massive difference.
It’s like watering a plant – those little drops of encouragement add up, and before you know it, you’ve got growth.
In this article, I’ll share some ideas that helped Fedor and me.
Why Small Wins Matter
Think about it: what happens when your child finally masters that G chord they’ve been wrestling with?
That little smile, that “I did it!” fist pump – that’s pure gold.
Psychologically, it’s powerful stuff.
When we acknowledge and celebrate those wins, we’re doing a few key things:
- Boosting confidence and self-esteem.
- Increasing motivation and enjoyment.
- Creating a positive association with learning.
To back this up, I found some interesting research on child development and positive reinforcement pioneered by B.F. Skinner. It states that…
Positive reinforcement is a method teachers use to encourage good behavior in kids. This approach involves giving rewards or praise when children do something right, creating a happy and motivating atmosphere for learning.
This shows it’s not just guitar; it’s how we learn anything.
Personally, I remember when Fedor was learning to strum the theme from Gravity Falls.
He was getting frustrated with the rhythm, and honestly, it sounded a bit rough!
But instead of focusing on what he wasn’t doing right, we celebrated when he kept the beat for a few bars.
We called it “doing baby steps”, breaking a larger task into smaller, more manageable pieces.
Now, he’s working on some more complicated strumming patterns.
Identifying Small Wins
So, what counts as a “small win” in guitar?
Here are some ideas, and remember, these are just a starting point!
Beginner Milestones:
- First chord(s).
- Smooth chord changes. Start with two chords.
- Playing a simple riff or song.
- Consistent practice habits.
- Tuning the guitar independently.
Recognizing Effort and Perseverance:
- Trying a challenging technique.
- Practicing even when not in the mood.
- Overcoming frustration.
Here’s a thread on the Acoustic Guitar forum to give you more real-life examples of milestones.
The discussion has a number of great responses with specific examples.
How to Celebrate Progress
Okay, this is the fun part!
Here are some ways to celebrate, keeping in mind that what works for one kid might not work for another.
Verbal praise and encouragement: “That sounded great!” “I can really hear you improving!” Be specific!
Tangible rewards: Stickers, practice charts, extra screen time – use whatever motivates your child.
Sharing with family and friends: A mini-performance for grandma or a quick video to send to a relative can be a huge confidence booster.
Recording and tracking progress: A simple practice journal or even short videos can help them see how far they’ve come.
Fun activities:
- Playing along to favorite songs.
- Jamming with others.
- “Mini-performances” at home.
I even saw a great discussion on Reddit the other day: How to celebrate/reward a nine-year-old for 100 days of practice?
But a word of caution: while celebrating is essential, it’s also important to balance it with realistic expectations.
Progress isn’t always a straight line.
There will be plateaus, setbacks, and days when it feels like they’ve gone backward. And that’s ok. It’s like anything in life. Which is a great lesson to learn early.
And please, avoid comparing your child to others.
Every learning journey is unique.
Keep the focus on their personal growth and the joy of making music.
Troubleshooting Challenges
Even with the best intentions, you might hit some bumps. Here’s a few things we can do as parents:
- Child doesn’t recognize their own progress: Sometimes, kids are their own worst critics. Point out specific improvements (“Remember how tricky that chord was last week? You’re nailing it now!”).
- Parent’s expectations are too high: We all want our kids to succeed, but pushing too hard can backfire. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
- Boredom sets in despite celebrating wins: Mix it up! Introduce new songs, try different styles, or find opportunities to play with others.
For more on dealing with a fixed mindset, check out this article by Jennifer Smith at Mindset Health.
They have some great strategies for helping kids embrace challenges and see mistakes as learning opportunities.
In conclusion, I can’t stress enough how important it is to celebrate those small wins.
It’s the fuel that keeps the fire burning, the encouragement that turns frustration into determination.
As we say here at Kind Guitar, we’re all about making the guitar journey kinder, and that starts with recognizing and valuing every step of progress.
Keep strumming, keep celebrating, and most of all, keep making music together!