Parenting coach asks parents to 'infuse frustration' in 3 ways into their kid's day to help them 'succeed in life'

Parents often do everything they can to make life easier for their children. However, parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy from Good Inside suggests that frustration and disappointment are actually key to preparing kids for life. In a recent Instagram post on her handle @drbeckyatgoodinside, she explained that when parents constantly step in to fix their kids’ problems, they aren’t actually helping but are preventing the children from developing the number one skill they need to avoid entitlement.

The post began with a bold statement, "Frustrate your kids today." While it sounded like unusual parenting advice, Dr. Becky explained, "Our job is not to make our kids happy. Our job is to prepare our kids for the rest of their lives," she wrote. The key to that preparation, she argued, is teaching kids how to sit with uncomfortable emotions instead of immediately removing frustration for them. "Frustration tolerance is what enables us to get through the hard things that come our way—it’s what sets the stage for growth, success, and achievement," she wrote.  "And all too often, we end up taking our kid’s frustration away," she explained, adding that while it might feel easier at the moment, it actually prevents children from developing a crucial life skill.

"If we want our kids to develop frustration tolerance, we have to develop tolerance for their frustration," she wrote. Dr. Becky also challenged the idea that entitlement is just about being spoiled. She explained that entitlement is often a sign that a child has not learned to sit with uncomfortable emotions. "That might sound like, 'I said I wanted that outfit; why won’t you just buy it for me?' or 'Go get me a water, I’m thirsty,'" she wrote. "Underneath these seemingly spoiled proclamations is something much deeper and more revealing... The inability to cope with these uncomfortable feelings when they inevitably arise."

To help parents actively teach frustration tolerance to their kids, Dr. Becky shared three simple but effective tips. The first one was, "Let your kid be bored – instead of jumping in with an activity or game, let them figure it out." She further said that the second strategy should be, "Say 'no' to something – even if you could say yes, it’s okay to let them handle disappointment." The final strategy she shared was to "let your kid struggle, whether it’s tying their shoes, solving a puzzle, or doing homework, resist the urge to step in and fix things for them."

Many parents resonated deeply with the post, sharing their own thoughts on the approach. @momcomnyc wrote, "Love letting my kids be bored. I did it and it helped me be more creative." @invited.llc said, "Yes! As parents, it’s our instinct to want to protect our kids from discomfort and frustration, and the scary thing is that in 2025, it’s more possible to do than ever. But when we do, we rob them of the skills to cope with the pain that is inevitable in later life. Thank you for this post!" @jayjum noted, "If kids are never frustrated, how will they develop the skills to overcome frustration?” @toddler_and_twin_mom simply added, “The teachers will thank you." @felipejose joked, " I’ve been working for the last 15 years to slightly disappoint my kids each day."

You can follow Dr. Becky Kennedy (@drbeckyatgoodinside) on Instagram for more parenting tips.