Across multiple studies, children who received unsolicited adult help—even well-intended—showed reduced motivation, lower persistence, and diminished confidence. Girls ages 6–11 even reported feeling “less smart” after unexpected assistance. The research underscores the importance of productive struggle: too-quick support communicates low expectations. Instead, educators should use hints, prompts, and questions, allowing students to experience challenge, autonomy, and competence.
Research: When to Resist the Urge to Help Students
by Michael Keany
yesterday
When to Resist the Urge to Help Students
Across multiple studies, children who received unsolicited adult help—even well-intended—showed reduced motivation, lower persistence, and diminished confidence. Girls ages 6–11 even reported feeling “less smart” after unexpected assistance. The research underscores the importance of productive struggle: too-quick support communicates low expectations. Instead, educators should use hints, prompts, and questions, allowing students to experience challenge, autonomy, and competence.
Original Article
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Prepared with the assistance of AI software
OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com