When one of my kids was in kindergarten, he spent months begging to learn karate. When we finally signed him up, he wanted to quit after two classes. My husband and I were at a loss. Do we let him give up or push him to keep trying? we asked ourselves. And how will our decision affect him in the future?
When our kids complain about not liking an activity, it might be because they’re struggling with the temporary discomfort of boredom, anxiety or self-doubt and we should encourage them to push through. Or it might be that that particular activity is not a good fit for them and we should let them move on.
How can parents tell the difference?
I asked Angela Duckworth (psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance), Phyllis Fagell (author of the new book Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times), and Bonnie Harris (author of Confident Parents, Remarkable Kids: 8 Principles for Raising Kids You’ll Love to Live With and host of the podcast “Tell Me About Your Kids”) to weigh in on this perennial parenting conundrum.
Such a good piece. Was just on my mind too