If you’ve ever watched your child wrestle with a tough math problem, stumble through a new sport, or hesitate before trying something unfamiliar, you know the struggle is real. As parents and educators, it’s tempting to step in and smooth the path, but believe it or not, their struggle is a good thing! Growth happens when kids push through difficulty, not when they avoid it. Our role is to support and encourage them, helping them develop the resilience they need to persevere in both academics and life.
Have you ever noticed that when kids learn something new, they often assume it should come easily? If they struggle, they think they’re “bad” at it. That’s where we step in.
First, normalize difficulty. Remind your child that everything worth doing takes time and effort. Share your own experiences. Tell them about how you burned your first attempt at baking bread or how learning to parallel park nearly made you quit driving altogether. Let them know that struggle doesn’t mean failure, it means they’re learning. When kids expect challenges as part of the process, they become more willing to push through tough moments instead of giving up.
Second, focus on effort over outcome. Research shows that kids who hear “You worked so hard on that!” rather than “You’re so smart!” are more willing to take on challenges. This is because when intelligence is praised, kids feel pressure to “prove” they are smart and often avoid hard things to protect that identity. But when effort is celebrated, they learn that perseverance is the key to growth. Try phrases like, “I love how you kept going even when it got tough,” or “I noticed how you tried a different strategy. That was a great way to problem-solve!” Encouraging their persistence helps them develop the grit they’ll need for life’s bigger challenges.
Growth comes through stretching. So when your child faces a challenge, be their biggest encourager, not their problem-solver. We’re committed to walking this journey with you. Together, we can help our students develop the resilience, faith, and perseverance they need to impact the world for Christ. Let’s embrace the struggle, because on the other side of it is a new-found strength!