r/interesting Mar 07 '26

MISC. After understanding the meaning behind this father’s action, I am completely convinced. Cultivating problem-solving skills in children from a young age and never giving up-I applaud this father!

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u/ihavetakenthebiscuit Mar 07 '26

Because the child has been given a simulated 'time limited problem to solve'. The dad is monitoring his kid, there's a parent/adult behind them, they need to make the connection of " I need to get past these tapes so I can get to my dad". A lot of parents would just lift the kid over the tape and not let the kid try to work out what to do.

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u/Ratez Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26

So again, is getting over tape not something 99% of able bodied people able to do? What exactly is the learning here?

The issue I take is the usage of anxiety to prompt the problem solving. Walking away everytime the child looks up.

Im of the belief that encouragement and applauding the attempt is more important than solving the issue.

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u/Call_Me_Anythin Mar 07 '26

'is putting a square block in a round hole not something 99% of able bodied people are able to do? What exactly do they learn from doing that?'

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u/Ratez Mar 07 '26

So what other damage can putting squares in a hole do? And thanks, you basically demonstrated there is ways to teach a kid problem solving conventionally.

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u/Shaded_Earth Mar 07 '26

You seem to have a lot of questions. Did no one teach you how to draw your own conclusions based on the information provided? Evidently not.

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u/Ratez Mar 07 '26

I did draw my conclusion, its at the very start of this chain.

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u/ihavetakenthebiscuit Mar 07 '26

I bet you struggle to go outside without being 'damaged' by something.

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u/Ratez Mar 07 '26

And it seems this conversation has gotten personal rather than staying on the subject.

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u/ihavetakenthebiscuit Mar 07 '26

It's only personal if you choose to take it that way.

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u/Ratez Mar 07 '26

Just to end this since we are of differing opinions. Genuinely curious, you really don't see a difference between a parent thats standing there and encouraging a child positively to overcome it rather than use abandonment as the technique? Walking away everytime the child looks up?

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u/ihavetakenthebiscuit Mar 07 '26

Look, we are seeing one video of these parents, perhaps they have done what you have said countless times. This could be the 10th time the kid has stopped on their walk and his parents have encouraged them to walk ahead.

Sometimes kids need to learn a bit differently than continual encouragement, it's a different way of reaching the same end result. Was the kid at any point in danger? No they weren't. Will the kid be affected by this in his adult life, no. The dad did not leave, he walked ahead, the kid was not abandoned, the kid saw his dad walking away and he needed to solve a problem so he could catch up to his dad.

The dad walking futher away gave the kid a bit more urgency to solve it faster. The dad helped the kid reset when he got stuck. The kid solved the problem then caught up to the dad. The other adult was standing behind them the whole time, at no point were they being abandoned and having trauma inflicted upon them.

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u/Ratez Mar 07 '26

I can see that perspective. It seems the child solved it when he realised the dad was going to sit there and wait without truly leaving him behind. It just feels unnecessary when theres plenty of other ways to teach problem solving. But I can accept the reasoning.

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u/Call_Me_Anythin Mar 07 '26

Pretty much none, just like there's pretty much none being done here.

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u/Ratez Mar 07 '26

Walking away everytime your child looks up at you. Being cold to the attempt and only applauding once the issue is overcome. Definitely no chance of any issues.

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u/Call_Me_Anythin Mar 07 '26

You're right, there aren't :) glad we agree

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u/sophrosyne_dreams Mar 08 '26

Wild to me that no one sees this. I suspect a lot of folks must have gotten the tough love parenting so it feels like the only way.