Why Fall Is the Perfect Time to Teach Kids the Power of “Yet”

Posted September 1, 2026

There’s something about the beginning of a new school year that feels like a fresh start.New teachers. New classrooms. New routines. New friends. And, of course, new things our kids are expected to learn. All of that newness can be exciting. But it also creates plenty of opportunities for two little words to creep in: “I can’t.”

I can’t read that book.

I can’t do this math problem.

I can’t make new friends.

I can’t tie my shoes.

I can’t do what the other kids can do.

As parents, our first instinct may be to jump in with reassurance.

“Yes, you can!”

“You’re so smart!”

“You can do anything you put your mind to!”

And there’s certainly nothing wrong with encouraging our kids. But I’ve learned that sometimes they need more than reassurance. They need something they can actually say to themselves when we aren’t standing beside them. That’s where one tiny word can make a big difference:

Yet.

Why “Yet” Matters for Kids

Adding “yet” doesn’t pretend something isn’t hard. It doesn’t tell a child that they should already know how to do something and it doesn’t guarantee that everything will suddenly become easy. Instead, it leaves room for growth.

“I can’t read that word” becomes “I can’t read that word yet.”

“I don’t know how to do this” becomes “I don’t know how to do this yet.”

“I’m not good at this” becomes “I’m not good at this yet.”

That small shift is part of developing a growth mindset, the understanding that our abilities can grow through learning, practice, effort, and support. And for young children, who are still developing the voice they use to talk to themselves, that matters.

Back-to-School Season Gives Kids Plenty of Chances to Practice

Fall is a particularly good time to start talking about the power of yet because children are surrounded by things they haven't mastered. A kindergartener may be learning to write their name. A first grader may be sounding out unfamiliar words. A second grader may encounter math that suddenly feels harder than it did last year. A third grader may be navigating changing friendships, increased independence, or schoolwork that requires more persistence. We can't remove every frustrating moment from our children's lives. And I’m not sure we should. What we can do is help them develop a more encouraging inner voice for those moments. Because eventually we won't be sitting beside them when the hard thing happens.

Positive Self-Talk Is More Than Saying Nice Things

When we talk about positive self-talk for kids, it can sound like we're simply teaching children to repeat affirmations.

“I am smart.”

“I am brave.”

“I am amazing.”

Those messages can absolutely have value. But I also want my children to know what to say to themselves when they don't feel smart or brave or amazing. What happens when the answer is wrong? What happens when someone else learns it faster? What happens when they try and still don't get it? Those are the moments when positive self-talk becomes a tool instead of just a nice phrase. Instead of:

“I'm bad at this.”

We can teach:

“This is hard for me right now, but I can keep learning.”

Instead of:

“Everybody else can do it except me.”

Try:

“I'm still learning how to do this.”

And instead of:

“I can't.”

We can give them:

“I can't yet.”

5 Simple Ways to Practice the Power of Yet at Home

You don't need a complicated lesson plan to start building a growth mindset in kids. Some of the best opportunities happen in ordinary moments.

1. Catch the “I can't.”
When you hear your child say it, resist the urge to immediately disagree. Try adding one word instead: “You can't do it...yet.”

2. Let them see you struggle, too.
Kids need to know that grown-ups don't magically know how to do everything. When you're struggling with something, say it out loud: “I haven't figured this out yet. Let me try another way.”

3. Talk about the process, not only the outcome.
Notice persistence, problem-solving, asking for help, practicing, and trying a different strategy. A correct answer is great, but how they got there matters too.

4. Make room for frustration.
Growth mindset doesn't mean children have to smile through every challenge. They can be frustrated. They can take a break. They can ask for help. “Yet” simply reminds them that today's struggle doesn't have to be the end of the story.

5. Read stories that show characters working through self-doubt.
Books give children a chance to watch someone else encounter a problem, struggle with it, and decide what to do next. That distance can make it easier to talk about feelings and thoughts that may be harder for children to recognize in themselves.

That's Exactly Why I Wrote Penelope's Story

In Penelope and the Power of Positivity, Penelope is a science-loving girl with big dreams of becoming a doctor. But having a big dream doesn't mean she always feels confident. Penelope has to recognize the negative thoughts telling her what she can't do and learn how to respond to them differently. That part of her story is especially important to me. I don't want children to simply hear adults tell them that they can accomplish anything. I want them to begin developing the tools to encourage themselves when doubt inevitably shows up. Because confidence isn't never thinking, “I can't.” Sometimes confidence is being able to hear that thought and answer:

“Maybe I can't do it yet.”

A New School Year Means New Opportunities to Grow

This fall, our kids will bring home backpacks, permission slips, artwork, half-eaten lunches, and probably more papers than we know what to do with. They're also going to bring home challenges. When they do, we have an opportunity to help them see those challenges a little differently. Not knowing something doesn't mean they're not smart. Struggling doesn't mean they're failing. Needing more time doesn't mean they aren't capable. And “I can't” doesn't have to be the end of the sentence.Sometimes, all it needs is one more word: Yet.

Penelope and the Power of Positivity is a confidence-building picture book for children ages 4–8 that helps kids recognize negative self-talk and practice replacing it with more encouraging, growth-minded thoughts. If you're looking for a children's book about confidence, perseverance, and the power of yet to add to your family's fall reading list, meet Penelope and discover how one small word can make room for a whole lot of growth.