School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton Kids Aren’t Less Resilient - We’re Training It Out Of Our Students
Feb 23, 2026
They unpack why kids seem less able to handle small setbacks and argue it is environmental, not biological. They examine how apps, over-scaffolding and curriculum pressure reduce chances to practise coping. They clarify what resilience actually means versus grit. They share four classroom strategies to prime kids for difficulty, praise regulation, build pride reflections and create supported struggle.
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How Apps Remove Productive Failure
- Games and apps actively design out prolonged failure by adapting difficulty and offering instant retries, reducing children's exposure to manageable struggle.
- That calibration provides rapid reward loops so children rarely sit with 'I'm not good yet' feelings that build persistence.
Measurement Pressure Shrinks Resilience Opportunities
- School systems prioritise measurable short-term learning, so teachers over-scaffold to meet targets and data demands.
- This optimization reduces ambiguity and trial-and-error in lessons, unintentionally weakening students' chance to build coping skills.
Grit Needs Safety Not Just Toughness
- Grit is persistence over time but is often misrepresented as 'try harder' without context.
- True grit grows when children feel safe, mistakes are accepted, support is available, and difficulty feels survivable.
