At Charity for Change, we believe that perseverance is more than just finishing a task, it’s about not giving up, even when things feel difficult. That is why it’s one of the nine core character traits woven into our curriculum.

Research shows that perseverance can be observed in children as young as three to six years old. As a non-cognitive skill, perseverance is measured in children by their willingness to complete a difficult task and then challenge themselves with an even more demanding one. The great news is that findings show that a child’s grit and perseverance grow significantly with age, especially when supported by adults who model and reinforce this behavior (Sutter, Untertrifaller, & Zoller, 2022).

For elementary-aged children, developing perseverance is not only critical for academic success, but it also supports long-term life outcomes, including good health, higher education, and greater workforce success. As educators, parents, and trusted adults, it’s our responsibility to nurture perseverance in the most effective and developmentally appropriate ways to help prepare children for a successful future.

5 Ways You Can Implement Perseverance

1. Praise Effort, Not Just Results
   
   Why it works: Children learn that trying hard matters more than being naturally good at something.

• Instead of saying: “You’re so smart,” try:
  “I can tell you worked really hard on that,” or
  “I love how you didn’t give up when it got tricky.”
  Research shows that effort-based praise promotes a growth mindset, which leads to greater persistence in learning tasks (Dweck, 2006).

2. Use Struggles as Teaching Moments
   
   Why it works: When children view mistakes as part of the learning process, they are less afraid to try hard things.

• Normalize struggle: “Everyone makes mistakes sometimes—that’s how we learn.”
• Ask reflective questions: “What did you try? What could you do differently next time?”
  Sharing your own stories of failure and how persistence makes this lesson even more meaningful.

3. Set Small, Achievable Challenges
   
   Why it works: Completing small goals builds confidence and stamina for bigger ones.

• Break big tasks into steps (e.g., instead of “write a story,” say: “Let’s write one sentence today.”)
• Celebrate progress: “You stuck with it until the end!”
  Use visual trackers or goal charts to help younger children see their progress clearly and stay motivated.

4. Model Perseverance Yourself
   
   Why it works: Children are always watching—when adults show persistence, kids are more likely to follow.

• Say things such as: “This is tough for me, but I’m going to keep trying.”
• Let children see you fixing mistakes and pushing through a difficult task.
  This not only models perseverance, but also helps build emotional regulation.

5. Create a ‘Try Again’ Culture
   
   Why it works: Encourages children to revisit challenges without fear of failure.

• Use phrases such as: “That didn’t work—what else can we try?” or
  “Let’s figure this out together.”
• Avoid immediately fixing things for children. Encourage them to try again and support them through it.
  Try starting a “Perseverance Jar” where children write down something they kept working on and eventually accomplished.

Perseverance is fundamentally important for learning mathematics, but as researchers DiNapoli and Miller note, it can be “difficult and uncomfortable for students to initiate and sustain in the moment” (2022). This challenge applies across all academic subjects, as students are often expected to push through frustration and maintain focus on complex tasks. The Charity for Change curriculum helps bridge this gap by integrating perseverance as one of nine core character traits woven into daily, engaging, and developmentally appropriate lessons.

The curriculum is aligned with state standards while also cultivating essential life skills such as kindness, cooperation, and self-control. Through consistent practice and reinforcement, students build the emotional resilience and cognitive flexibility they need to persevere in school and in life.

If you’re an educator or afterschool provider, the Charity for Change curriculum is an effective and affordable way to build both academic and character success in your students.
Schedule a demo with a member of our team to see how this program can support your goals and fit your needs.