In the case of my DD, who hasn't been challenged much in life, you can tell she's working hard when she is emotionally engaged and excited, perhaps even sometimes on the verge of tears, but also persisting with the task and ultimately very happy and satisifed upon completion. In some cases the experience is more positive (writing comes easily to her--we never have tears there; just deep engagement) but I have also seen her doing what I considered to be positive but emotionally challenging hard work in 3 specific scenarios:
1) Learning to swim
2) Learning to ride her bike
3) This year, for the first time, in an academic task--when working on the enrichment/gifted math worksheets she gets weekly. These are brainteasers--they require thinking outside the box and figuring out what the problem is asking. DD is used to seeing what is required immediately, and these throw her out of her comfort zone--in a good way, IMO.
I would also say that I have seen her working hard on drawing and winning at chess.
The sight of her actually working is a beautiful one for me.
Last edited by ultramarina; 10/04/11 09:28 AM.
