When your child gets frustrated with a tough math problem or a new reading skill, it can be tempting to jump in and help. But here’s something powerful to remember: that “this is hard” moment might actually be the most important part of learning.
It’s called productive struggle—and it’s how the brain grows stronger.
What Is Productive Struggle?
Productive struggle happens when a learner is challenged just beyond their current ability. The task is hard, but not impossible. They have to think, try, make mistakes, and try again—with guidance and encouragement along the way.
This kind of challenge activates the brain’s learning systems, builds confidence, and helps kids develop the grit and resilience they’ll need when future challenges arise.
The Science Behind Struggle
Research in neuroscience shows that effortful practice changes the brain. When kids (and adults!) work through challenges, neural connections strengthen and become faster—literally rewiring the brain for learning and problem solving through a process called neuroplasticity.
Psychology research also backs this up. Studies on growth mindset and grit show that students who believe they can grow through effort—and who persist through difficulty—achieve more over time, even beyond what IQ predicts.
In short, when kids learn that effort leads to growth, they stop fearing mistakes and start embracing challenges.
Here’s Why Grit and Resilience Matter:
- Deeper learning: Kids remember and understand more when they have a challenge to overcome.
- Confidence: Struggling and then succeeding builds self-belief.
- Life skills: Persistence, problem-solving, and coping with setbacks are skills that carry far beyond the classroom.
- Emotional strength: With the right support, kids learn to handle frustration in healthy ways instead of avoiding anything that feels “too hard.”
5 Ways Parents Can Encourage Productive Struggle at Home
- Let them wrestle with a challenge. Give support, but don’t rush to rescue.
- Praise effort, not ease. Focus on “You worked hard on that” rather than “You’re so smart.”
- Talk about mistakes. Normalize them as part of learning.
- Model perseverance. Share your own “I figured it out after I failed” stories.
- Celebrate progress. Small wins build confidence over time.
How LearningRx Builds Productive Struggle Into Brain Training
At LearningRx, productive struggle isn’t just a concept—we build it into every training session. Our brain training programs are designed to challenge, support, and strengthen thinking skills in measurable ways.
Here’s how:
- The right level of challenge. Trainers hand-select and customize every exercise to consciously push a student just past their comfort zone.
- One-on-one rapport. Our brain trainers provide encouragement, feedback, and strategies to keep students engaged—even when it’s tough.
- Fast-paced, focused practice. Sessions are fun but intense, giving the brain the kind of targeted workout that builds stronger neural pathways.
- Improved thinking and learning skills. Regular reflections and assessments help our clients see progress—and learn that persistence pays off.
Peer-reviewed research on LearningRx training has shown significant changes in skills like attention, memory, processing speed, and reasoning—the very skills that power learning across subjects.
The Takeaway
When kids experience productive struggle in a supportive environment, they learn that hard work changes their brain, builds their confidence, and prepares them for whatever challenge comes next.
At LearningRx, we harness that science every day—turning struggle into strength and frustration into focus.
If your child often gives up too quickly, gets easily discouraged, or struggles to stay focused, our cognitive skills assessment can help you identify the root cause—and where the best path forward is for building their capacity for learning!