Try getting it wrong, to help them get it right

Here’s a counterintuitive idea.

If you want to help your child learn something new, even if you don’t feel confident in the subject yourself, one of the most effective things you can do is model the wrong way to do it.

Yes, deliberately get it wrong.

It sounds strange. It works remarkably well.

Children love spotting mistakes

Most children enjoy playing the role of teacher.

When you intentionally make a mistake, you hand them that role.

Suddenly they are the expert.

They’re watching carefully. They’re analysing. They’re ready to correct you.

That process strengthens their understanding far more than passively listening to an explanation.

The psychology behind it

This taps into something called incongruity resolution.

From a very young age, children find humour in things that don’t quite fit.

If you say to a toddler, “The cow says quack quack,” they burst out laughing. Not just because it’s silly, but because they recognise the mismatch. They detect the error.

That act of spotting the incongruity is cognitive work.

They are comparing what they know to what they’ve just heard. They are resolving the contradiction.

How this works with older children

The same principle applies far beyond the younger years.

You can:

• Answer a comprehension question badly on purpose and let them explain what’s missing or how to make it better

• Use the wrong punctuation in a sentence and let them correct you

• Choose an obviously weak word in a piece of writing and invite them to improve it

Instead of saying, “Here’s the right way,” you can ask, “Does this look right to you?”

It feels playful. It reduces pressure. It encourages critical thinking.

And because it’s slightly absurd, it can often be funny!

Why this builds deeper understanding

When a child explains why something is wrong, they are:

• Articulating the rule

• Applying their knowledge

• Testing their reasoning

That’s far more powerful than simply hearing the correct answer.

It also builds confidence. They experience themselves as capable thinkers, not just recipients of instruction.

You don’t need to be the expert

This is particularly helpful if you feel unsure about a topic yourself.

You don’t have to do anything other than create the opportunity for your child to spot, question and correct.

Learning doesn’t always start with being right.

Sometimes the most effective way to teach the right way… is to model the wrong one.