What helps kids learn, keep trying, and bounce back after a hard moment?

In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline sit down with educator, author, speaker, and chess coach Kevin Cripe to talk about what truly helps children thrive at school, in sports, and at home. With more than 27 years in education, Kevin shares what he learned from teaching in high-mobility classrooms, building an after-school chess programme for students from low-income communities, and helping kids grow through encouragement, challenge, and steady support.

This conversation gets into why children learn better when they feel safe and relaxed, why praise for effort and improvement matters more than constant focus on results, and how parents can respond when kids lose, struggle, or shut down. Kevin also shares powerful stories from the classroom and from chess tournaments that show what can happen when adults stop pushing for perfection and start making room for growth.

You’ll hear practical ideas for supporting children and teens through school stress, competition, mistakes, and self-doubt, plus a refreshing reminder that kids do better when they know they are valued no matter the outcome.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• how emotional safety affects learning
• why effort, improvement, and success all deserve recognition
• how to help kids after a loss without making things worse
• why some children learn more slowly at first, then take off
• how teaching others helps kids learn better
• why pressure around grades can damage connection at home
• how parents can support resilience in children and teens

About Kevin Cripe

Kevin Cripe is a motivational speaker, author, and educator with more than 27 years of experience supporting students, teachers, and communities. As an elementary school teacher in Modesto City Schools, he created an after-school chess programme that changed the lives of hundreds of students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. His work centres on helping students succeed without frustration and building compassion across diverse communities. He has spoken internationally, including at the Innovative Schools Conference in Atlanta and the Chess in the Schools Conference in London.

http://kevincripemotivationalspeaker.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.cripe.31

https://kevincripemotivationalspeaker.com/#books

Homework activities for adults to support children and teens

1. Notice effort out loud for one full week

Replace result-based praise with comments about persistence, courage, preparation, recovery, and trying again.

Say:

• “I noticed you stuck with that even when it got frustrating.”
• “You kept going.”
• “You handled that hard moment really well.”
• “I saw how much effort you put in.”

Resource needed:
 A notes app or small notebook to track what you noticed each day.

2. Practise the “say less” response after a hard moment

When your child loses, freezes, cries, or shuts down, do less talking. Sit nearby. Offer a hug if they want one. Let them settle before

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