In an Age of Instant Answers, Educators Say There’s a Case for Letting Kids Struggle a Little
Experts say routine frustrations help children build planning, decision-making and problem-solving skills before parents step in.
- Developmental experts and educators say children need chances to struggle with everyday problems because figuring them out is a vital skill that must be practiced. Dr. Dana Suskind, a University of Chicago surgery and pediatrics professor, emphasizes that "the most important thing we can give children is not the answer, but the experience of figuring it out."
- Technology allows parents to track children's locations, see grades in real time, and email teachers immediately, often intervening before a child realizes a problem exists. Dr. Stephanie Carlson, director of the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, warns that failing to struggle can lead to "severe anxiety."
- Nicole Knoth, a Flagstaff, Arizona mother, started giving her daughters small decisions at age 5, having them manage $5 at stores to calculate what they could afford. Caroline Chirichella, a 37-year-old mother in Italy, tells her 8-year-old daughter, Lucia, that homework is her own responsibility.
- Allowing children to experience frustration or boredom supports learning and resilience, according to Kiryn Hoffman, CEO of the National Children's Museum in Washington, D.C. Hoffman notes that boredom can facilitate creativity and help children build confidence for adulthood.
- Psychologist Dr. Jean Twenge writes in "10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World" that modern teens have fewer opportunities for independent decision-making than previous generations. Parents should prioritize stepping back when stakes are low to rebuild this critical skill.
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16 Articles
In an age of instant answers, educators say there’s a case for letting kids struggle a little – WTOP News
When children forget their lunch, can’t solve a math problem or don’t know how to get somewhere, the instinct for parents can be to step in immediately. But sometimes, the problem is an opportunity. Developmental experts and educators say children need chances to struggle with everyday problems because figuring them out is a skill that...
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The Seattle TimesIn an age of instant answers, educators say there’s a case for letting kids struggle a little
When children forget their lunch, can’t solve a math problem or don’t know how to get somewhere, the instinct for parents can be to step in immediately. But sometimes, the problem is an opportunity. Developmental experts and educators say children need chances to struggle with everyday problems because figuring them out is a skill that...
In an age of instant answers, educators say there's a case for le
When children forget their lunch, can’t solve a math problem or don’t know how to get somewhere, the instinct for parents can be to step in immediately. But sometimes, the problem is an opportunity. Developmental experts and
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