Say something like, "Oh, that's interesting. Now we know something we didn't know before." In real research, a guess that turns out wrong is not a failure. It is a finding, and I put that idea into the book on purpose so your child sees the characters treat it that way too.
Words that help
Swap failure language for discovery language:
- Instead of "That didn't work," try "That's interesting. What happened instead?"
- Instead of "You got it wrong," try "You found out something you didn't expect."
- Instead of "Let's try again," try "What could we try next, now that we know this?"
If your child is upset, name the feeling first. "You really hoped the bean would sprout. That's disappointing." Then move to the discovery once they're calmer.
Pages that make the point for you
- Page 37, The Null: a friendly ghost labeled "Null Hypothesis," with the line "Sometimes, nothing happens. That is okay too!" I made the ghost cute so the idea of "nothing changed" feels safe.
- Page 77, Negative Results: a sad face on a screen, but Professor Hoot is smiling and pointing at it. The line is "Even a 'No' is a discovery!" Ask your child, "Why do you think Professor Hoot is smiling?"
- Page 83, The Crumpled Paper: a bin full of crumpled paper and a determined face. "It's okay to make mistakes. Just try again!"
Coloring these pages right after a surprising result at home is a gentle way to talk about it without making it a lecture.
Show it yourself
Children learn more from watching you than from anything you say. Mention your own wrong guesses out loud: "I was sure it would rain today. I was wrong! I wonder why." That tells your child that grown-ups are wrong all the time, and that the next question is the interesting part.
Why Getting the Wrong Answer Is the Best Part of Science has more ideas, including a few famous discoveries that began as mistakes. If your child tends to freeze up before even trying, see What if my child is anxious or reluctant to try?