Letter “j” is for the just-right challenge!
Occupational therapists are apparently masters of just-right challenges. A just-right challenge is exactly what it sounds like. It’s something that’s not too easy, nor too hard. The purpose of the just-right challenge is to give clients something that is within their current ability level. If the activity is too easy, they’ll assume we think they are incompetent and they’ll become bored and/or offended. If the activity is too hard, they may feel degraded, losing their belief in themselves to achieve what is meaningful to them.
With that in mind, it’s important to provide a just-right challenge. Not too easy. Not too hard. Somewhere in the middle. Somewhere where we can provide just enough challenge to promote continued growth in their ability.
