What term describes the support adults give to children learning new skills?

The term that describes the support adults give to children as they learn new skills is scaffolding. This concept originates from educational psychology and emphasizes that children benefit from support that is tailored to their current level of understanding. Scaffolding involves providing temporary assistance in the form of guidance, resources, or structured tasks that enable learners to build on their existing knowledge and skills.

The goal of scaffolding is to help children move towards greater independence and mastery of the skill. As children gain confidence and competence, the amount of support gradually decreases until they are able to perform the skill on their own. This method is particularly effective because it is responsive to a child's individual needs, ensuring that they are challenged just enough to promote learning without becoming overwhelmed.

In contrast, mentoring typically implies a longer-term relationship where an experienced individual offers guidance and advice. Guiding and facilitating may touch upon aspects of supporting learning but do not specifically capture the gradual and responsive support structure that scaffolding entails. Thus, the concept of scaffolding is most accurately described by the provided choice.