Have you heard of snowplough or lawnmower parents? They’re the ones who push all the obstacles out of the way of their children.

Isn’t that a good thing? We don’t want our children to endure unnecessary hardship. We want the best for our kids — and we want to help them get it.

Building Resilience

I once heard a radio guest describe how organic vegetables are more nutrient-dense than commercially grown plants because, without pesticides, the organic plant has to work harder to stay healthy and fight off disease.

It seems that the challenges of the environment and the lack of artificial help through chemicals and pesticides make the plant stronger and healthier.

In the same way, our children need to face challenges. As they do, they’ll become more capable, and more confident.

So, next time your child needs help, don’t dive in and fix things. Stand back, be understanding, and ask, “What do you think you should do now?”

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Originally published at Mum Daily. Photo by Zen Chung.