Productive Struggle
Promoting Independence
At Justin’s Place we aim to promote independence for each of our participants within their level of needed support. Independence is SO important for children, especially those who may have a disability. Independence allows a child to advocate for themselves, say no when needed and have control of the world around them. Independence can be a hard thing to teach, largely because as caregivers, we do not like to see our child struggle. Teachers, parents and others want to HELP! HOWEVER, oftentimes, children don’t really need help. They need someone to hold space for them, provide encouragement and offer patience. This is where a term called “productive struggle” comes in!
Productive Struggle
This term means just what it sounds like. “Struggling” has a negative connotation in our culture these days, but it shouldn’t! SO much can be learned and accomplished only by struggle and failure. Even if a struggle does not result in the desired outcome, it will ALWAYS result in something productive. By allowing a child time to struggle, we are affording them the chance to build fine and gross motor skills, perseverance, problem-solving, solution based thinking, creativity, confidence and so much more!
Example of Productive Struggle
A participant riding independently- a result of many prior productive struggles.
A child sits down to put on his shoes. After about 30 seconds he yells for help, “MOM!” Most of our reactions (as moms) would be to come help him push his foot in, fix the strap etc. Think of a different scenario. What if mom comes and sits down next to him and asks “What’s up?” The child goes on to explain he can’t get his foot in his shoe. Mom responds with “Hm, let’s slow down and look at what’s going on. Oh! I see the tongue and straps are pushed down in your shoe! That doesn’t leave much room for your foot does it?!” The child pauses, looks, digs out the extra pieces and slides his foot in! Even if this struggle goes on further, instead of getting involved physically, Mom can sit back and explain how to maneuver his foot and provide encouragement. By this simple act of allowing productive struggle, she has afforded her child the independence of putting his shoe on, the fine motor skills it took to do so and the confidence to try it again next time!
Productive Struggle at Justin’s Place
We try to implement this idea frequently at Justin’s Place. A child fiddles with a latch on the door. A child struggles to get their foot in the stirrup. A child is struggling to get a puzzle piece to fit just right. We train our therapeutic instructors and volunteers not to step in immediately. We pause. We offer encouragement. We offer curious suggestions. We encourage them to take their time. It’s incredible to see how these tiny productive struggles and the NOT HELPING of an adult allow the child to blossom in independence! A finally opened door, a foot placed in the stirrup or a puzzle completed…. each small feat results in a big smile, a reassured ability and a bit more independence!