Building persistence in early years: Why children should learn through hands-on methods

Through building, experimenting and working with different materials, children can take an active role in their learning at home and in the classroom. Hands-on learning allows children to learn through active participation, exploration and direct experience. These experiences support learning and development while helping children build persistence when they encounter challenges. 

Why hands-on learning matters in cultivating persistence 

Research supports the value of learning through experience. A study found that experiential learning had an overall positive impact on children’s academic achievement (Ranken, E., Wyse, D., Manyukhina, Y. and Bradbury, A., 2024). The research also identified benefits in areas such as problem-solving, memory and critical thinking. 

Hands-on learning can support experiential learning when children have opportunities to reflect on their actions, apply ideas and connect practical experiences to what they are learning (Marshall, G., n.d.). It brings curiosity, problem-solving and discovery into everyday activities by allowing children to work with materials, make choices and respond to what happens next.  

Some of the key benefits of hands-on experiences include:  

• Confidence to approach challenges: Children make decisions and test their own ideas during activities. Each successful step can reinforce their confidence in tackling something unfamiliar. 

• Comfort with mistakes and setbacks: Practical activities allow children to experience unsuccessful attempts as part of the learning process.  

• Problem-solving and adaptability: When an idea doesn’t work, young learners need to adjust their approach and consider alternative solutions. 

• Motivation to try again: Seeing progress can encourage students to continue exploring and make another attempt. 

Together, these experiences encourage learners to keep going even when something becomes difficult. Over time, repeated opportunities to work through challenges can strengthen persistence. 

How to incorporate hands-on activities into everyday learning 

Common teaching tools, materials and toys can provide a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities. Children can test ideas, come up with solutions and respond to what happens if things don’t work out.  

Tinkering with everyday objects 

Tinkering gives children the freedom to investigate how ordinary objects work together. Safe materials such as cardboard tubes, containers, paper, tape and recycled objects are ideal for simple challenges. 

• Present a problem, such as finding a way to move, balance, connect or support an object. 

• Let children choose their materials, test an idea and observe what happens. 

• Ask what they could change, then give them time to modify and test their idea again. 

Each attempt gives children new information about the materials and their own ideas. When an approach fails, they can use what they have learned to make a change and try again. The experience can help children become more comfortable with continuing after an unsuccessful attempt. 

Playing with blocks 

Block play allows children to build, test and rebuild structures using materials that respond directly to their choices. It can turn a simple construction activity into an opportunity to work through a problem. 

• Set a challenge such as building a bridge for a toy, creating a tall tower or making a shelter. 

• Let children choose how to build and discover what happens when their structure becomes unstable or collapses. 

• Ask what they can change, then give them time to rebuild and test their new approach.  

A fallen structure gives children immediate feedback on their choices. They can identify a problem, make an adjustment and see whether it improves the result. Repeating the process can help them see that a setback can lead to another attempt and another opportunity to make progress. 

Exploring open-ended materials 

Open-ended materials such as clay, cardboard, paper, fabric, loose parts and natural objects allow children to decide what they want to create and how they want to create it. 

• Offer broad instructions on what to do with the materials without requiring a specific finished product. 

• Let children choose their materials, experiment with different combinations and decide how they want to develop their ideas. 

• When something does not work as expected, give them time to change, rebuild or revisit their creation. 

The open-ended nature of these materials gives children room to experiment and rethink their ideas. They can change direction, revisit an approach and continue developing their creation. The experience can help children see that progress may involve several attempts and that an unsuccessful result does not have to end the activity. 

Best practices for hands-on learning 

Educators and parents can support a hands-on approach by providing suitable challenges and creating an environment where failure feels safe. When failure becomes part of the process, it can help children learn from trial and error and improve their next attempt (Park, D., 2026). 

• Allow manageable difficulty: Set tasks that stretch children’s abilities without becoming overwhelming. 

• Give children time to work through setbacks: Hold back from stepping in so they can take ownership of the problem. 

• Make mistakes feel safe: Create an environment where unsuccessful attempts feel acceptable and useful. 

Children can build persistence when they have the freedom to explore a challenge and decide what to try next. A 2025 study of 4- and 5-year-olds found that children were more likely to persist with a challenging task when they independently developed new strategies (Ishikawa, M. and Kanakogi, Y., 2025). Hands-on activities provide similar opportunities for learners to work out their own solutions. These experiences can help children keep going when they encounter difficulties, cultivating persistence and perseverance over time.  

Helping children grow through persistence 

Hands-on learning gives children meaningful opportunities to explore, experiment and work through challenges. These early experiences can shape how they approach learning as they face more complex tasks and setbacks over time. By giving them space to try, adjust and keep going, educators and parents can help lay the foundations for nurturing confident, persistent learners.