> “What do I do when my kid says something is too hard?” This is one of the most common questions we get. The first step is to figure out whether the issue is with skill or with motivation. If the task is genuinely too difficult, then perhaps they need to go back and build a stronger foundation. Or if they’re not developmentally ready maybe they need to try again in a few months. But if it’s a task the child is capable of and they’re just suffering from lack of motivation, then I find that simply validating their feelings is often enough to get them unblocked. You can tell them, “Yes, this IS a hard thing. Most kids don’t learn to read until they’re 6 or 7! In fact, there are even some adults who can’t read. So this IS a hard thing. But you can do it.” I like to remind my kid that there was a time that going to the potty was hard for them, but they practiced, and now it’s easy. It usually gets a giggle but it's also a good reminder: They can do hard things.