LAUSR

Although teachers are recommended to create a stimulating learning environment in which children can use, perfect, and extend their skills, this is far from easy. In many cases, identifying the optimal difficulty level of learning tasks involves a trial-and-error process during which teachers offer children too difficult tasks, with negative outcomes as a result. This experimental study investigated if autonomy-supportive instructions could dampen or even cancel out these presumed negative outcomes associated with math difficulty in elementary schoolchildren (N = 479; M-age = 9.41). After varying an autonomy-supportive versus a controlling instructional style through a comic book, children solved a series of either easy-medium or difficult math exercises, followed by the completion of questionnaires and the opportunity to choose the difficulty level of a final set of exercises to work on independently. Children who solved difficult, relative to easier, exercises reported less interest, more irritation, and more cognitive disengagement, while also seeking less challenge when asked to work independently. Need-based experiences of competence and autonomy accounted for these effects. Yet, the impairing impact of task difficulty could, at least partially, be dampened through the use of an autonomy-supportive relative to a controlling instructional style, which led to enhanced autonomy satisfaction. These findings largely occurred independent of children's motives for mathematics. The results have high practical value, especially for poor performers and children with mathematical learning disabilities, who find math to be harder overall. Limitations and implications for practice are discussed. Educational Impact and Implications Statement : Autonomy-supportive instructions (e.g., inviting language, meaningful rationale) were found to dampen the impairing effects of too difficult math tasks on children's motivational, cognitive, and affective experiences. This is especially important for poor performers and children with mathematical learning disabilities, who find math to be harder overall. An autonomy-supportive environment and avoiding too hard learning material may stimulate children to accept new challenges, thereby possibly improving chances for later academic/job success.