Let Your Kids Struggle a Little (It’s a Good Thing!)

As parents, our instinct is to help. We see our child fumbling with a puzzle piece, struggling to tie a shoe, or getting frustrated trying to buckle a seat belt — and we want to jump in. We hate to see them struggle. But here’s the truth: when we step in too quickly, we rob them of the chance to build frustration tolerance — a skill that will serve them in every area of their lives.

Frustration tolerance is the ability to stay calm, think, and keep trying even when something feels hard. It’s what helps a child not give up when math homework gets confusing, when a friendship feels tough, or when life throws them challenges later on.

So next time your child is working on something — tying shoes, building a Lego set, making a sandwich, making a phone call or finishing that tricky puzzle — resist the urge to take over. 
Instead, take a breath, step back, and let them work through it.

It might take longer. It might get messy. They might get frustrated. But that’s exactly the point.
Work on yourself and not getting frustrated at their frustration.

Every time your child pushes through a hard moment, their brain learns, “I can do hard things.”
That simple belief builds confidence, problem-solving skills, and resilience — gifts that last a lifetime.

So don’t do it for them.
Let them try. Let them fail. Let them figure it out.
Because every small struggle now is preparing them for the big challenges later.

Take care,
Megan