You Are Not the Builder. You Are the Foreman.

It starts innocently. You see your child struggling to connect tab A to slot B. "Here," you say, "let me help." Twenty minutes later, you are sweating, tongue out, constructing an architectural marvel, and your child has wandered off to eat a cracker.

We call this "The Dad Over-Engineering Syndrome" (Moms do it too!).

The Zone of Proximal Development

Psychologist Lev Vygotsky coined a term: The Zone of Proximal Development. It's the sweet spot between "I can't do it" and "I can do it easily." That is where learning happens. If you do it for them, you steal the learning.

Your New Role: The Foreman

Don't hold the cardboard. Hold the vision.

• Don't say: "Put that piece there."
• Say: "It looks like it's leaning. What do you think would make it stronger?"
• Don't say: "That's not a window."
• Say: "Interesting ventilation system!"

Your job is to supply the materials and the enthusiasm. Let them supply the engineering. Even if it collapses. Especially if it collapses.