Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.
Randy PauschRead
There's a lot of talk these days about giving children self-esteem. It's not something you can give; it's something they have to build. Coach Graham worked in a no-coddling zone. Self-esteem? He knew there was really only one way to teach kids how to develop it: You give them something they can't do, they work hard until they find they can do it, and you just keep repeating the process.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-esteem in children is built through challenges and hard work, not simply given.
Randy Pausch emphasizes that genuine self-esteem cannot be handed to children; rather, it is cultivated through the process of overcoming challenges. By presenting children with tasks they initially cannot accomplish, and guiding them to work hard to succeed, they build confidence and self-worth through their efforts and achievements.
Themes
Self-EsteemChildrenChallengesHard WorkConfidence
In practice
Example use cases
A teacher might use this quote to encourage students to embrace challenges in their learning.
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