---

Raising Children with a Winning Attitude — A Lesson for Parents from John Maxwell

In a world filled with competition, comparison, and constant change, what truly sets a child apart is not just their academic performance or talent—but their attitude. As leadership expert John C. Maxwell says in his book A Winning Attitude, “Attitude is the librarian of our past, the speaker of our present, and the prophet of our future.”

This means a child’s attitude influences how they see themselves, how they respond to challenges, and how far they are willing to go in life.

As parents, the question becomes: How do we help our children develop a winning attitude?

---

🌟 What is a Winning Attitude?

A “winning attitude” doesn’t mean a child must always win, but rather that they:

• Stay positive even when things go wrong
• Are resilient after failure
• Show gratitude in the little things
• Focus on growth, not perfection
• Take responsibility instead of blaming others

In A Winning Attitude, Maxwell writes,

“You cannot tailor-make the situations in life, but you can tailor-make the attitudes to fit those situations before they arise.”

That’s powerful parenting wisdom! Teaching children to prepare their attitude before facing challenges is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

---

💡 Practical Ways Parents Can Teach a Winning Attitude (with Book Examples)

1. Model Gratitude and Positivity

Maxwell emphasizes that attitude is more caught than taught. Children imitate what they see.

🧠 What to do:
If something goes wrong (e.g. traffic, a burnt dinner), avoid complaining. Instead, say: “It didn’t go as planned, but let’s try again tomorrow.”

📖 Bible Verse:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” – Philippians 2:14

---

2. Turn Mistakes Into Learning Moments

In the book, Maxwell recalls that many winners have faced multiple failures but refused to let those define them. He writes:

“The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up.”

🧠 What to do:
When your child fails a test or doesn’t win a competition, say: “What can we learn from this? What will you do differently next time?”

---

3. Speak Life and Possibility

Maxwell says:

“A bad attitude is like a flat tire—if you don’t change it, you won’t go anywhere.”

🧠 What to do:
Use affirming phrases like:

• “You are capable of trying again.”
• “Every expert was once a beginner.”
• “We are proud of your effort.”

Let your children know that failure is feedback, not final.

---

4. Create a ‘Try Again’ Culture at Home

Children with a winning attitude learn that success is not instant. Maxwell reminds us:

“People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude.”

🧠 What to do:
Celebrate persistence. If your child builds a block tower that falls, say: “That was great effort! Can you try it a different way?”

---

🏫 At Kuza, We Teach Children to Grow from the Inside Out

At Kuza International School, we practice to nurture not only academic excellence but also strong, positive attitudes. We believe every child should be equipped with the mental tools to:

• See opportunity in every challenge
• Treat others with kindness even under pressure
• Stay hopeful even when results are not immediate

When schools and homes work together to build this kind of mindset, we raise a generation of leaders—not just high scorers.

---

✨ What You Can Start This Week as a Parent

• Have a gratitude moment each evening: share 3 things you’re thankful for
• Watch your language—replace “You failed” with “Let’s figure it out together”
• Tell your child one positive thing you noticed about their effort each day
• Read a short inspirational story or quote from A Winning Attitude and discuss it

---

---

📖 Final Encouragement

Teaching a child to have a winning attitude is a daily process. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being consistent. With patience, encouragement, and God’s wisdom, you can help your child face the world with courage, resilience, and joy.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…” – Isaiah 40:31

👉 Learn more about how we shape character and mindset at www.kuzainternationalschool.ac.ke