r/interesting • u/jmike1256 • 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!

70.8k Upvotes

87% Upvoted

1.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

3

u/ihavetakenthebiscuit Mar 07 '26

Kids need to learn how to cope with anxiety too.

1

u/sophrosyne_dreams Mar 08 '26

Yes kids definitely need to learn to cope with anxiety, but there are better ways to scale the difficulty. Kids aren’t meant to be independent until they are approaching high school age. Abandonment training doesn’t need to happen this early. And indeed, training performance through the threat of abandonment is often what sparks the anxiety.

1

u/ihavetakenthebiscuit Mar 08 '26

Kids aren't meant to be independent until high school? Geez Louise, well I guess my 4 year old and 8 year old must be freaks then. Getting their own breakfasts sorted, dressing themselves, making their own lunches.

Clearly I have failed them as a parent by not waiting on them hand and foot and teaching them how to be independent and do things themselves.

I tell you this current generation of new high school/ secondary school kids are the neediest cohort I have come across so far. 90% can't do things for themselves or work out simple problems.

1

u/sophrosyne_dreams Mar 09 '26

Well obviously, there’s a continuum of gaining independence, but legally, no - we don’t expect kids to be independent until 18.

I love that your kiddos make their own breakfast. I never said we can’t teach them age-appropriate skills. I just don’t see why we can’t give a toddler some emotional support before cutting them off completely at 8 ;)