In a world that often pushes children toward perfection, actor Jason Momoa is offering a wonderfully different perspective on raising confident, capable kids. His parenting philosophy is beautifully simple yet profoundly powerful: "Falling is great."

During a heartwarming 2023 interview with Men's Health, Momoa shared how he actively teaches his children that struggle isn't something to fear or avoid—it's actually an essential ingredient for growth. Rather than shielding them from every bump and stumble, he creates opportunities for them to experience challenges in safe, supportive ways.

The Aquaman star's favorite classroom? The great outdoors. Through activities like rock climbing, Momoa and his children learn together that falling isn't the end of anything—it's actually the beginning of understanding something meaningful. This hands-on approach creates lessons that stick far better than any lecture ever could.

What makes Momoa's philosophy so refreshing is how it reframes failure entirely. In his view, falling isn't a sign of doing badly—it's proof you're trying. This perspective is especially valuable today, when many children grow up in environments that prize flawless performance above authentic learning. When kids internalize a fear of mistakes, their natural curiosity and confidence can slowly shrink. By calling falling "great," Momoa transforms it from something shameful into something worthy of celebration.

The type of confidence this approach builds is remarkably durable. Unlike the fragile self-esteem that comes from constant praise or easy wins, confidence earned through overcoming challenges runs deep. When children fall and get back up, they discover something invaluable: discomfort doesn't last forever, and they're capable of more than they imagined. This prepares them beautifully for real life, where smooth sailing is rarely the norm.

There's also something special about how Momoa teaches these lessons—through shared experience rather than instruction. When parents struggle alongside their children, the relationship becomes more equal and honest. Children feel truly seen rather than simply managed. Climbing together builds trust and creates a bond where lessons feel lived rather than forced. It also shows children that adults fall too, which is incredibly reassuring.

This approach addresses something many parents notice: perfection anxiety is starting younger and younger. Between social media, academic pressure, and constant comparison, many children today fear mistakes because they feel public and permanent. By normalizing struggle early, Momoa helps prevent this anxiety from taking root.

The beautiful takeaway for all parents isn't about rock climbing specifically or mimicking celebrity parenting styles. It's about creating space for effort without rushing to fix everything. Parents don't need to throw parties for failures, but they can stop treating mistakes as disasters. Letting children try again without shame teaches resilience far more effectively than constant correction or protection.

Momoa's message is ultimately one of trust—trust in children's ability to learn from difficulty, trust in the value of authentic experience, and trust that the path to genuine confidence winds through valleys as well as peaks. It's a hopeful reminder that some of life's most valuable lessons come not from never falling, but from learning how to rise.