--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're really doing children a disservice…" description: "\"We're really doing children a disservice when we underestimate what they're capable of.\" — Kim Brooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/kim-brooks-10671_capable_we-re-really-doing-children-a-disservice_3082406.jpg" --- # We're really doing children a disservice when we… ![“We're really doing children a disservice when we underestimate what they're capable of.” quote by Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/kim-brooks-10671_capable_we-re-really-doing-children-a-disservice_3082406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/kim-brooks-10671_capable_we-re-really-doing-children-a-disservice_3082406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/kim-brooks-10671_capable_we-re-really-doing-children-a-disservice_3082406.jpg) > “We're really doing children a disservice when we underestimate what they're capable of.” [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Underestimating children's abilities limits their growth and potential. **In simple terms:** Kids can do more than we think. Key Takeaway Believe in children's potential. Themes education potential growth Mood hopeful concerned Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - teaching - policy making - mentoring Key Concepts developmental psychology self-efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How can we better assess children's true capabilities? - What opportunities are we denying them? A Different Perspective Children may still need guidance and resources to succeed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Disservice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-disservice-2743148/) [Disservice Underestimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disservice-underestimate-5264139/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-children-1605291/) [Underestimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimate/) [Underestimate Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimate-capable-5264140/) ## Related quotes > [Don't underestimate yourself. You are capable of more than you can ever imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/don-t-underestimate-yourself-you-are-capable-of-more-than-you-can/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [I think it is important to say that though, of course, it is wonderful to have children, it is a disservice to others not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-tilly/i-think-it-is-important-to-say-that-though-of-course-it-is-wonderful/) [Meg Tilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-tilly/) > [I don't claim to know everything about parenting, but I do know parents do their children a disservice by constantly sugarcoating their shortcomings to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lz-granderson/i-don-t-claim-to-know-everything-about-parenting-but-i-do-know/) [LZ Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lz-granderson/) > [Don't say I was an inspirational teacher - my former pupils would laugh their heads off. I was grossly incompetent, but I hope I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/don-t-say-i-was-an-inspirational-teacher-my-former-pupils-would-laugh/) [Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/) > [Then one day I thought it would be wonderful to make a whole book, to make my text and my drawings together, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bruna/then-one-day-i-thought-it-would-be-wonderful-to-make-a-whole-book-to/) [Dick Bruna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bruna/) > [I have no hesitation doing children's movies. Zero. And I don't even have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-have-no-hesitation-doing-children-s-movies-zero-and-i-don-t-even/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [The idea of doing a children's film is different, but quite honestly I like doing anything - any genre. I've only made one Western,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/the-idea-of-doing-a-children-s-film-is-different-but-quite-honestly-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [I love doing children's TV. You get such extraordinarily positive feedback from your audience too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-armstrong/i-love-doing-children-s-tv-you-get-such-extraordinarily-positive/) [Alexander Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-armstrong/) > [I grew up in Queens and New Jersey. I started doing children's theater when I was seven to get out of school because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-grew-up-in-queens-and-new-jersey-i-started-doing-children-s-theater/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [All I can say is this: what I'm doing with children is good, solid common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-frost/all-i-can-say-is-this-what-i-m-doing-with-children-is-good-solid/) [Jo Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-frost/) > [Never underestimate a man's ability to make you feel guilty for his mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/never-underestimate-a-man-s-ability-to-make-you-feel-guilty-for-his/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [The way the world underestimates me will be my greatest weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calista-flockhart/the-way-the-world-underestimates-me-will-be-my-greatest-weapon/) [Calista Flockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calista-flockhart/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [“You underestimate yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/you-underestimate-yourself/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) ## More by Kim Brooks > [I got an MFA in fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/i-got-an-mfa-in-fiction/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [I allow myself to feel fear without always capitulating to it... You don't have to live your life by fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/i-allow-myself-to-feel-fear-without-always-capitulating-to-it-you-don/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [When I first learned I was pregnant with my son, I had only two firm convictions about parenting: I knew it was important, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/when-i-first-learned-i-was-pregnant-with-my-son-i-had-only-two-firm/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [I have a profound and unshakable love of good eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/i-have-a-profound-and-unshakable-love-of-good-eating/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [“That’s why I hadn’t talked to you for a while. But man, did I miss hearing your sweet voice.” Sandy was surprised. Mark was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/that-s-why-i-hadn-t-talked-to-you-for-a-while-but-man-did-i-miss/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [The desire to keep television out of our son's life was one of the few parenting priorities my husband and I agreed on from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/the-desire-to-keep-television-out-of-our-son-s-life-was-one-of-the/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [I had never intended to be a stay-at-home-mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/i-had-never-intended-to-be-a-stay-at-home-mom/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [When I earned my diploma from the University of Virginia in the spring of 2000, it never occurred to me before my senior year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/when-i-earned-my-diploma-from-the-university-of-virginia-in-the/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [It shouldn't be normal to be anxious all the time about your children, so women should seek mental health help if they're having excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/it-shouldn-t-be-normal-to-be-anxious-all-the-time-about-your-children/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [I think that the expectation on parents has changed from giving your children shelter and love and support and guidance to this idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/i-think-that-the-expectation-on-parents-has-changed-from-giving-your/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [As a teenager, I'd longed to get my driver's license so I could get away from my parents. Then I'd longed to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/as-a-teenager-i-d-longed-to-get-my-driver-s-license-so-i-could-get/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [I love my husband. I love my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/i-love-my-husband-i-love-my-family/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [I adore cooking and baking and holiday feasts and dining with friends and spending too much money on mind-blowing meals in wonderful restaurants, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/i-adore-cooking-and-baking-and-holiday-feasts-and-dining-with-friends/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [Motherhood was the first instance in my life where I was asked to sacrifice anything for anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/motherhood-was-the-first-instance-in-my-life-where-i-was-asked-to/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) > [I wonder if all love affairs, all marriages, all lifelong partnerships, aren't in some ways a turning away from the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-brooks/i-wonder-if-all-love-affairs-all-marriages-all-lifelong-partnerships/) [Kim Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) [Explore all 64 Kim Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-brooks/) ## More Capable quotes > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. 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And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [The mathematical facts worthy of being studied are those which, by their analogy with other facts, are capable of leading us to the knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/the-mathematical-facts-worthy-of-being-studied-are-those-which-by/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [“If you not yet try How to know you can or not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sopharat/if-you-not-yet-try-how-to-know-you-can-or-not/) [Sopharat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sopharat/) > [I'm attracted to the garden, without a doubt, but I always try and image the wolf that's there, too. And that wolf would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-light/i-m-attracted-to-the-garden-without-a-doubt-but-i-always-try-and/) [Michael Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-light/) > [A man, as a man, could arrive at all the dignity that a man was capable of obtaining or receiving; but it needed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/a-man-as-a-man-could-arrive-at-all-the-dignity-that-a-man-was-capable/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [Playing is much, much harder than composing in my opinion, becoming a player. 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