In the room
They will not try the new thing
Often inferiority or a too-high rung — not laziness.
What is actually happening
Self-efficacy and Erikson's industry live here. If the last three tries ended in comparison or takeover, refusal is wisdom. Fear of looking foolish is developmentally on time in middle childhood.
Do
- Lower the first rung until a win is likely
- Spot physically or socially: 'I'll go with you'
- Let them watch a slightly-ahead peer
- Define success as 'you started' for a week
Don't
- 'It's easy' (now they are stupid if they struggle)
- Public comparison
What to say
- You choose: I hold your hand, or I walk beside. Looking at the end of the beam.
- Last month you couldn't. Today we're only asking for the first step.
The scaffold
Mastery stack: 2-minute win, then 10% harder. Narrate the strategy they used.