Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Advice for when "It's too hard!"

What do you all do when your child shuts down and complains, "It's too hard!"? I'm especially referring to times when you know the child is capable of doing whatever "it" is.

My daughter was doing something today. There were six problems involving drawing the second half of a symmetrical shape. She said each of them but one was "TOO HARD!" but managed all but one. Each time she got one, she giggled and was delighted. Then she'd complain about the next one again....

I feel that it's important to push my kids to think their way through something tough and not give up. I don't want to let them quit when something isn't immediately obvious, but it's hard to find strategies sometimes.

Advice on how others approach this challenge is welcome!

Val