Why grit matters: The key to thriving in the 21st century
“By nurturing grit, children learn to see challenges as opportunities for growth and setbacks as stepping stones to success.”
Anuoluwa Agbato, creative writing facilitator and co-learner at KEY academy
When you think of “21st-century skills”, what comes to mind? Critical thinking? Problem-solving? Creativity? Collaboration? Perhaps even soft skills? These are all vital, but have you ever handed a child an exciting activity, only to watch their enthusiasm fade halfway through? Or seen them take on a challenge, only to abandon it the moment it became tough? Moments like these underline the often-overlooked skill that is ‘grit’.
Over the years, especially in recent months, my time working with the older children at KEY academy has deepened my appreciation for this unspoken yet essential skill. I’ve noticed how easily some children lose focus when a task isn’t immediately engaging. Some quickly lose interest or become distracted after only a few minutes.
I have also seen children give up on tasks when faced with challenges. For example, during a story-writing activity, some children encountered a mental block and, rather than working through it, became upset and decided they couldn’t continue. These moments have highlighted the importance of cultivating grit.
While intelligence, interests, and natural talents play a significant role, the ability to stay focused on a task, persevere through difficulties, and remain committed to a goal is an indispensable skill. It’s not just vital for children - it’s something we, as adults, depend on every single day. In fact, it’s the skill that can make something as ordinary as getting out of bed to face the day feel a little easier. By nurturing grit from an early age, we equip children with the tools they need for academic success and tackling life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.
Grit: The unspoken skill
In today’s fast-paced world, brimming with endless digital distractions, cultivating grit has never been more important. Grit enables students to concentrate on complex tasks for longer periods, building the foundation for deep learning and achieving long-term objectives.
Grit - a blend of perseverance and passion for enduring goals - keeps children motivated even when tasks are tough or repetitive. By nurturing grit, children learn to see challenges as opportunities for growth and setbacks as stepping stones to success.
What the research says
Angela Duckworth, an academic, psychologist, and popular science author, has demonstrated through her work on grit that perseverance and resilience are better predictors of success than talent alone. Students who learn to embrace setbacks as learning opportunities tend to achieve more in life, seeing obstacles as part of their growth journey.
A study by Fernández et al. (2020) shows that people with high levels of grit tend to achieve more, live healthier lives, and experience greater overall well-being.
Moreover, a meta-analysis by Credé et al. (2017) confirmed that grit is significantly correlated with academic performance and retention. Students with high levels of grit were more likely to complete their education, demonstrating the importance of perseverance in overcoming challenges in school and beyond.
In educational contexts, teaching students to develop a growth mindset - where they view intelligence and abilities as malleable - has been shown to complement grit. Research by Dweck (2006) revealed that students with a growth mindset are more likely to persevere through difficult tasks, reinforcing the idea that grit and mindset work hand in hand to foster resilience and long-term achievement.
Finally, a study by Duckworth and Quinn (2009) indicates that grit is a better predictor of success than IQ, as it measures an individual’s ability to remain focused on long-term objectives despite the distractions and difficulties that might arise. This has significant implications for educators, parents, and organisations aiming to cultivate perseverance as a foundational skill for success.
So, what can be done?
The good news is that this essential skill can be nurtured. As parents, guardians, and educators, we have the unique ability to create experiences and challenges that support the development of grit. By fostering enabling environments and encouraging activities that build focus and resilience, we can help children strengthen their executive functioning, perseverance, and problem-solving abilities. These intentional efforts lay the groundwork for a lifetime of success, both in the classroom and beyond.
Building grit: Perseverance in the face of challenges
Building grit in students means helping them learn to overcome setbacks, work on difficult tasks, and stay motivated toward long-term goals. Here are some practical and engaging ways to nurture this invaluable trait:
1. Problem-solving activities
One of the best ways to develop grit is through activities that challenge the mind and acknowledge persistence. For instance, you can introduce your student to a Rubik’s cube. They might find it frustrating at first, but when they finally solve it, their sense of accomplishment will be immeasurable - and so will the lesson in grit.
2. Storytime lessons
Share stories about people or fictional characters who face significant challenges but persevere to achieve their goals. Classics like ‘The Little Engine That Could’ or biographies of great achievers can motivate students to keep going even when the going gets tough.
3. Support long-term projects
At KEY academy, we’ve seen how long-term projects teach grit and resilience in ways no textbook ever could. Take our Buds (ages 7 - 9 years), for example, who recently wowed us with their ‘Threads of Tradition’ project. Over weeks of consistent effort, they researched, designed, and crafted vibrant outfits inspired by Nigeria’s cultural diversity. Their hard work culminated in an exciting runway show where they confidently shared their knowledge of history, heritage, and even traditional foods with proud parents and guests.
Our students develop grit throughout each project, learning the value of perseverance and commitment to see their ideas through to the end. Whether it’s crafting traditional outfits for a runway show or solving real-world problems in communities, this ability to stick with a task helps them build the confidence and resilience needed to finish what they start - valuable skills for life and their future.
4. Model grit
Children are natural imitators, and your behavior is often their blueprint. In essence, lead by example. Share your own stories of persistence - whether it’s about completing a difficult work project, learning a new skill, or overcoming personal setbacks.
5. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity
Failure is not the opposite of success - it’s a step towards it. Encourage children to try new things without fear of failure. If they make mistakes, discuss what went wrong and brainstorm ways to improve. This encourages a growth mindset. I always encourage my students to see failure as an opportunity to try again and become better, rather than something to avoid.
By reframing failure, students learn that it is not a reflection of their abilities but rather a natural part of the learning process. This mindset helps them become more resilient and persistent, knowing that each setback is simply a stepping stone towards eventual success.
6. Breaking tasks into smaller chunks
When a student feels overwhelmed by a big project, breaking it into smaller steps works wonders. I once had a student who dreaded writing an entire essay, but we divided it into parts - brainstorming, outlining, and then writing one paragraph at a time. The process felt manageable, and they stayed engaged throughout.
For areas they find difficult - like mathematics or writing - turn the experience into something enjoyable. By balancing the exploration of passions with growth in difficult areas, children develop grit as they learn to stay curious, committed, and resilient in their efforts.
Conclusion
While dreams and aspirations are vital for our students, grit - the perseverance and resilience to face challenges - is equally essential. As much as students have interests and passions, they will inevitably encounter obstacles, even in the things they love.
Take gymnastics, for example. A child who loves gymnastics will face hard things - rigorous training, new stunts, or difficult routines they’ve never tried before. Without grit, those challenges might feel overwhelming. But with it, they’ll learn to embrace discomfort, tackle setbacks, and persevere until they succeed.
Developing grit is not just about academics; it’s about life. It’s about teaching children to stick with something, even when it’s tough, and to complete the tasks that take them closer to their goals. Grit helps them grow into individuals who can thrive in the face of challenges and who see obstacles as opportunities to learn, adapt, and become stronger.
Let’s nurture grit in our children, equipping them to thrive in a world of distractions and challenges. By nurturing grit, we help them grow into resilient, focused, and resourceful individuals. This foundation of resilience is one of the most valuable gifts we can give them.
Written by Anuoluwa Agbato, creative writing facilitator and co-learner at KEY academy.