Learning Through Failure: Why Mistakes Matter in STEAM Play and Development

June 08th, 2025 / By Olivia Maitre

According to UC Berkeley professor Matt Covington, fear of failure is closely connected to self-worth: the belief in one’s own value. Children often base their sense of worth on their parents’ opinions, worrying they won’t be loved or appreciated unless they achieve top grades, outstanding performance, or perfect behaviour. These anxieties naturally lead to a fear of failure. Yet mistakes are not only unavoidable; they are vital for learning, especially in STEAM play and growth. As highlighted in our previous article on growth mindset, developing resilience and perseverance in facing challenges is crucial for children. Cultivating these skills early provides lasting benefits through school, careers, and daily life.

The Science of Failure in Play

Interestingly, the brain recognises within only one second when an error has been made. It then engages in a longer process to prevent future errors. In other words, it’s fair to say that the brain doesn’t like making mistakes, and it will make time to avoid repeating them. However, in STEAM learning, mistakes are not setbacks but stepping stones; accepting failure and developing a growth mindset are essential for discovery, creativity, and innovation. This is why, despite the brain’s natural aversion to mistakes, embracing trial and error is especially valuable in STEAM environments. STEAM learning encourages children to embrace mistakes as part of growth. At ages 3-5, STEAM play, like puzzles and building, helps kids experiment and learn from errors, building resilience early. For ages 6-8, hands-on kits and experiments teach that failure is a natural step toward understanding: children try, fail, and try again, developing persistence and teamwork. By ages 9-12, advanced STEAM challenges, such as robotics, push kids to solve problems creatively, learning that setbacks are opportunities for innovation. Throughout these stages, STEAM fosters a growth mindset, showing children that failure is not only inevitable but essential for deeper learning and success. At tinkerer, we have a variety of creative and innovative boxes for the 3 age ranges.

Why Failure is a Powerful Teacher

As outlined above, failure is a powerful teacher. It helps build resilience, encourages problem-solving, teaches accountability and also fuels creativity. Did you know that many innovative ideas, from scientific discoveries to art masterpieces arise from mistakes? When mistakes are accepted as a normal part of learning, children feel comfortable exploring new ideas, being creative, and taking chances with their thinking. This change in attitude is particularly crucial in preschool and elementary settings, where foundational learning habits are being established. STEAM learning through play creates an ideal, safe space for experimentation and failure. Fascinatingly, tackling difficult tasks that at first result in failure, often called “productive struggle”, helps build stronger neural connections by increasing myelin, which makes brain pathways work more efficiently. These early challenges not only deepen understanding but also help children acquire lasting skills. When parents and teachers treat mistakes as a normal part of learning, they support greater resilience, self-awareness, and deeper learning.

Discover our tailored STEAM adventures

Planetarium, Explore Box

- From our Wonder range (ages 3-5)

This Mini Market box immerses children ages 3–5 in pretend play that naturally invites mistakes and do-overs, from crafting felt vegetables to trading and bartering. Through playful activities like maths-based trading and memory games, kids learn problem-solving and resilience as they navigate challenges and misunderstandings. Each experience encourages them to try, fail, and try again, fostering a growth mindset and confidence in their ability to learn from setbacks.

- From our Odyssey range (ages 6-8)

The Spy Academy Box lets children ages 3–5 step into the role of a secret agent, where building gadgets and cracking codes naturally leads to trial and error. As kids assemble a working compass, experiment with disguises, and use the Morse code machine, they encounter challenges that encourage persistence and creative problem-solving. Through imaginative play, they learn that mistakes are part of the adventure; helping them grow more resilient and confident in their learning journey.

- From our Explore range (ages 9-12)

The Repeating Crossbow box invites kids to build a modernised repeating crossbow, turning each step of construction into a hands-on challenge where mistakes are part of the learning process. As young inventors assemble and test their creation, they develop problem-solving skills and resilience when things don’t work perfectly. Through trial and error, children learn that setbacks are opportunities to improve; building confidence and a growth mindset in every mission.

Fostering a Growth Mindset Through Play

Through playful exploration, children develop persistence as they tackle problems that don’t have immediate solutions, learning to adapt and innovate. STEAM toys make learning tangible and engaging, helping children see that every mistake is a step toward mastery. By celebrating effort and progress over perfection, these experiences boost confidence and encourage risk-taking. Whether building a mini market, assembling a spy gadget, or coding a robot, children learn that persistence and experimentation are the keys to discovery. This hands-on approach aligns perfectly with the principles of a growth mindset, preparing children for future challenges in STEAM and beyond. To further explore how growth mindset shapes learning, read our article here.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, there is significant importance in making and accepting mistakes in play and development. Failure is a normal part of learning, and STEAM boxes are ideal tools for growth. Having a growth mindset can go a long way. Resilience and perseverance are crucial for development, self-confidence, discovery, and ultimately, success in STEAM fields. By embracing challenges and viewing setbacks as opportunities to learn, children not only build essential problem-solving skills but also develop a positive relationship with learning itself. STEAM play environments, where experimentation is encouraged and mistakes are seen as valuable feedback, help young learners develop the confidence to persist through difficulties. This approach fosters creativity, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning, all of which are at the heart of STEAM education. In the end, learning through failure prepares children to tackle real-world problems with optimism and adaptability, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.