Can I prevent ValueErrors from occurring in the first place?

Yes, absolutely! Input validation is crucial. Before using a value in an operation, check if it falls within the expected range or meets other criteria. You can use conditional statements (`if`, `else`) to validate inputs. Libraries like `numpy` offer functions that can automatically validate data types and ranges. Using `try...except` blocks for potentially problematic operations is also a preventative measure, though validation is generally preferred.