ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on a key attribute of successful parenting – the skills of giving and receiving feedback. The major factor in ensuring the feedback is heard, understood, and actioned are outlined, and a major message is the critical role of errors and mistakes and how parents need to make failure child’s best friend in developing their learning. Many will have heard of the feedback sandwich: a directive sandwiched between two positive statements. Feedback is more likely to have a positive impact where there are errors and mistakes than when there is success and correctness. Feedback is effective when it clarifies success, informs the learner of progress relative to success, offers guidance about the next steps to improve, when it is not mixed with praise, is given and received in a high-trust environment, and when it is heard, understood, and actionable.
