Many modern parents don’t want to push their children to do things that are difficult. If a child complains about a task, parents often rush to take it away — and do everything themselves.
This also applies to school-related challenges. But what they don’t realize is that by doing this, they’re taking away the child’s chance to grow and build a successful future.
Difficulties = development.
How does cognitive growth actually happen?
Think about how muscles grow through physical effort. If you lie on the couch your whole life, your muscles won’t just stay weak — they’ll eventually waste away.
The same happens with the brain. Every new challenge builds new neural pathways and strengthens the brain. Without mental effort, there is no cognitive development.
This is especially true in childhood, when the brain is still developing. Without regular mental challenges from an early age, healthy development simply won’t happen. Of course, we’re not talking about overwhelming tasks.
Every new experience builds a new skill. For toddlers, this might be learning games, brushing teeth, or helping with chores. For older children, it’s studying, reading, or solving logic puzzles.
The key is to regularly and gradually increase the difficulty so development doesn’t plateau.
How can parents support healthy development?
Parents shouldn’t overprotect their children or remove every challenge. Remember, every effort is a chance to grow. At the same time, don’t overwhelm them — too much pressure can harm a child’s mental well-being.
Parents should always be there: emotionally supportive and gently guiding. Don’t jump in to do everything for your child. Instead, explain and demonstrate, offer encouragement, and praise their efforts.
Only through effort can children learn to grow and achieve their goals. And only parents can create the kind of environment where effort becomes a natural part of life. This helps children accept challenges and not fear them.
The goal of a parent in a child’s education isn’t to make life easier, but to teach them how to face life’s difficulties and overcome them.
🧠 Brain activity increases when it's hard to
Each difficult task is like an exercise machine for a child's brain.
So far so easy... Brain resting 😴
