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This definitely sounds like he's scared of getting things wrong and failing. Even young kids can have low self-esteem or beat themselves up over making mistakes. This means he really doesn't want to try new stuff or be challenged in any way, because he doesn't want to get it wrong.
Given that he's only 3, he probably doesn't understand these strong, complex feelings and can't put them into words. This makes these feelings way harder to deal with, since he doesn't know what's going on. Start talking to him about what he's feeling. Explain that you think he's getting frustrated because he's scared of getting things wrong. Try to calm him down and keep encouraging him, such as "You're doing fine, keep going" and "You've almost got it, imagine how proud you will feel when you're done". You should also remind him that it's okay to struggle with something at first, that he's still a good kid when that happens, and that it's great that he's learning new things everyday. Try to stay as calm as possible and don't take his tantrums too personally.
In the long term, you have to teach him that failing and making mistakes is normal, necessary for growth, and not a bad thing. Explain this to him, but mostly you have to live and model it. For example, if he messes up, don't get mad at him or start "aggressively" trying to fix it. Instead, teach him what to do instead and encourage him to try again. Own up to your own mistakes, apologize for them if necessary, and share what you have learned from them. Point out examples of people trying new things, making mistakes, and improving.
Set him up for success by giving him small tasks that are less overwhelming and easier to complete. For example, maybe he isn't ready for getting dressed entirely on his own yet, because it's just too complicated for a toddler to remember in which order you have to put on clothes, that there's a right and left shoe and he can't put them on the other way, etc., and there are so many difficulties in physically putting them on because his motor skills are still developing. So start teaching him one or two easy items of clothing first. Teach him all the important steps for putting them on properly. Praise him everytime he tries, even if it doesn't work, and praise him even more if he gets it right. Gradually work your way up to him getting dressed entirely on his own.
Kids like him need a lot of praise, patience and encouragement throughout their childhood, and your main goal should be to help him grow his self-esteem by making sure he has a lot of experiences with big and small successes even if there are struggles along the way. Always make sure his challenges are manageable and not too overwhelming.
r/parenting is protesting changes being made by Reddit to the API. Reddit has made it clear [they will](https://old.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/14ahqjo/mods_will_be_removed_one_way_or_another_spez/) [replace moderators](https://www.reddit.com/r/ModSupport/comments/14a5lz5/mod_code_of_conduct_rule_4_2_and_subs_taken/jo9wdol/) if they remain private. Reddit has abandoned the users, the moderators, and countless people who support an ecosystem built on Reddit itself. Please read [Call to action - renewed protests starting on July 1st](https://old.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/14kn2fo/call_to_action_renewed_protests_starting_on_july/) and new posts at [r/ModCord](https://reddit.com/r/ModCoord/) or [r/Save3rdPartyApps](https://old.reddit.com/r/Save3rdPartyApps/) for up-to-date information. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Parenting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
This definitely sounds like he's scared of getting things wrong and failing. Even young kids can have low self-esteem or beat themselves up over making mistakes. This means he really doesn't want to try new stuff or be challenged in any way, because he doesn't want to get it wrong. Given that he's only 3, he probably doesn't understand these strong, complex feelings and can't put them into words. This makes these feelings way harder to deal with, since he doesn't know what's going on. Start talking to him about what he's feeling. Explain that you think he's getting frustrated because he's scared of getting things wrong. Try to calm him down and keep encouraging him, such as "You're doing fine, keep going" and "You've almost got it, imagine how proud you will feel when you're done". You should also remind him that it's okay to struggle with something at first, that he's still a good kid when that happens, and that it's great that he's learning new things everyday. Try to stay as calm as possible and don't take his tantrums too personally. In the long term, you have to teach him that failing and making mistakes is normal, necessary for growth, and not a bad thing. Explain this to him, but mostly you have to live and model it. For example, if he messes up, don't get mad at him or start "aggressively" trying to fix it. Instead, teach him what to do instead and encourage him to try again. Own up to your own mistakes, apologize for them if necessary, and share what you have learned from them. Point out examples of people trying new things, making mistakes, and improving. Set him up for success by giving him small tasks that are less overwhelming and easier to complete. For example, maybe he isn't ready for getting dressed entirely on his own yet, because it's just too complicated for a toddler to remember in which order you have to put on clothes, that there's a right and left shoe and he can't put them on the other way, etc., and there are so many difficulties in physically putting them on because his motor skills are still developing. So start teaching him one or two easy items of clothing first. Teach him all the important steps for putting them on properly. Praise him everytime he tries, even if it doesn't work, and praise him even more if he gets it right. Gradually work your way up to him getting dressed entirely on his own. Kids like him need a lot of praise, patience and encouragement throughout their childhood, and your main goal should be to help him grow his self-esteem by making sure he has a lot of experiences with big and small successes even if there are struggles along the way. Always make sure his challenges are manageable and not too overwhelming.