The Great Unwiring: Why Productive Struggle Still Matters for Our Children

Real learning lives in moments of effort. When children pause, question, collaborate, and work through ideas together, they strengthen the thinking skills that help them grow.

Recently, I came across a powerful article in Fortune titled “Students can’t reason: Teachers warn AI is fueling a crisis in kids’ ability to think,” written by Eva Roytburg.

The piece stayed with me long after I finished reading it. It put words to something many educators and parents have quietly been sensing for a while. Something important is changing in how children think, learn, and wrestle with ideas.

And it reminded me of something I shared during a youth mental health conversation on CNN on January 2, 2026.

I spoke about the importance of productive struggle in childhood.

Not unnecessary hardship.Not pressure.

But the kind of challenge that helps children grow stronger, more resilient, and more capable of thinking for themselves.

From “The Dog Ate My Homework” to “AI Wrote My Brain” 

If you knew my dog, she actually eats homework 😄

For decades, cheating in school required effort.

Students copied answers, borrowed homework, or tried to look over at someone else’s paper. It was wrong, but it still required thinking, planning, and risk.

Today, something very different is happening.

A student can type a prompt into an AI tool and receive a fully written answer in seconds.

No wrestling with the question.

No organizing thoughts.

No drafting, revising, or struggling through confusion.

Just an instant finished product.

The Fortune article describes a growing concern among educators. Researchers studying the impact of AI on learning have identified something called cognitive offloading.

In simple terms, it means handing over the thinking to the technology.

Instead of struggling through a problem, the tool does the reasoning.

And when the brain stops doing the work, something important can begin to fade.

When Thinking Muscles Stop Being Used

Learning happens in moments of effort, when children wrestle with ideas, organize their thoughts, and build understanding through persistence.

Learning happens in moments of effort, when children wrestle with ideas, organize their thoughts, and build understanding through persistence.

The brain grows stronger through effort.

Just like physical muscles, our thinking skills develop through repetition and challenge.

When students:

• build an argument

• organize a piece of writing

• solve a difficult problem

• explain their reasoning

they are strengthening the neural pathways that support memory, understanding, and creativity.

Researchers warn that when this work disappears, we may see something called cognitive atrophy, the weakening of thinking skills simply because they are not used.

The concern is not just about cheating.

It is about what happens when children stop practicing the act of thinking.

Why Productive Struggle Matters So Much

Productive struggle is where resilience grows. When children try, adjust, and try again, the brain builds pathways that support learning and confidence.

Productive struggle is where resilience grows. When children try, adjust, and try again, the brain builds pathways that support learning and confidence.

This is why the idea of productive struggle matters so deeply.

Learning has always required a certain amount of friction.

When children pause, think, try, fail, revise, and try again, they are doing something incredibly valuable.

They are building resilience.

They are developing patience.

They are learning that effort leads to growth.

During the CNN conversation last month, I spoke about how important it is for children to experience challenge in their lives.

Children need opportunities to struggle in healthy ways.

They need moments where the answer is not immediate.

They need time to think.

Because resilience is built through challenge.

When everything becomes instant and effortless, we risk removing the very experiences that help children grow stronger.

This Is Not About Fear. It Is About Thoughtful Use.

Technology can be a powerful learning partner when the brain leads and the tool follows.

Technology can be a powerful learning partner when the brain leads and the tool follows.

AI is not the villain in this story.

Like any tool, it can be helpful when used thoughtfully.

AI can assist with brainstorming, organizing ideas, and exploring new perspectives.

But it should be a thinking partner, not a thinking replacement.

The real opportunity before us is AI literacy.

Children must learn:

• when it is appropriate to use AI

• how to question AI-generated information

• how to verify what they read

• and most importantly, how to think independently first

The brain must lead.

Technology should follow.

A Garden, Not an Assembly Line

Learning is a process of growth. Like a garden, it requires patience, guidance, and time for children to develop their full potential.

Learning is a process of growth.

Like a garden, it requires patience, guidance, and time for children to develop their full potential.

I often think about education like a garden.

Children grow through nurturing, challenge, sunlight, and care.

Teachers guide.

Parents support.

Communities cultivate.

Technology can be a helpful tool in the garden.

But it cannot replace the gardener.

And it certainly cannot replace the process of growth.

Growth takes time.

Growth takes effort.

Growth takes struggle.

Let’s Continue the Conversation

When children are given space to think, question, and struggle through ideas, they develop the confidence to express their own understanding of the world.

When children are given space to think, question, and struggle through ideas, they develop the confidence to express their own understanding of the world.

This topic matters for every family, educator, and community member.

So I would love to hear from you.

Take a moment and reflect:

1. When was the last time your child struggled with something difficult and worked through it?

2. Do you think technology sometimes removes important learning challenges for children?

3. How can parents and teachers encourage more independent thinking in a world filled with instant answers?

You can share your thoughts in the comments below or join the conversation on social media.

These are the conversations that help us grow together.

Knowledge is powerful.

And when we share it with one another,

we strengthen the garden for every child.

With appreciation for your time and thoughtful reflection,

Josephine

Rooted · Resilient · Rising