spoonfeeding
Doing everything for
Spoonfeeding is feeding someone who cannot feed themselves—an infant, an invalid.
The figurative sense dominates: giving someone information or assistance in such small, predigested pieces that no effort is required of them.
The word usually carries disapproval, implying the recipient should be more capable: The professor refused to spoonfeed students the answers.
Also spelled spoon-feeding.
Treating as helpless
- pamperingLavish attentive care
- overprotectiveGuarding too zealously
- indulgentToo willing to yield
- smotheringDepriving of air
cosseting · doting · mothering · hovering · fussing · nurturing · shielding · spoiling
Making something feasible
- relianceState of needing support
- passivityState of non-resistance
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
crutch · codependency · neediness · clinging · weakness · vulnerability · subordination · submissiveness
Guidance for action
- tutorialInstructional step-by-step guide
- guidedLed with assistance
- scaffoldingTemporary exterior work platform
- didacticIntended to instruct
step-by-step · hand-holding · mentoring · coaching · explanation · demonstration · walkthrough · prompting
Superior and dismissive manner
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- underestimatingMisjudging as less significant
- oversimplifyingRemoving necessary complexity
infantilizing · dumbing-down · minimizing · dismissive · simplistic · disrespectful · insulting · humoring
babying
Treating as helpless
- pamperingLavish attentive care
- overprotectiveGuarding too zealously
- indulgentToo willing to yield
smothering · cosseting · doting · mothering · hovering · fussing · nurturing · shielding · spoiling · handholding
enabling
Making something feasible
- relianceState of needing support
- passivityState of non-resistance
- complianceAdhering to requirements
helplessness · crutch · codependency · neediness · clinging · weakness · vulnerability · subordination · submissiveness · disempowerment
instruction
Guidance for action
- tutorialInstructional step-by-step guide
- guidedLed with assistance
- scaffoldingTemporary exterior work platform
didactic · step-by-step · hand-holding · mentoring · coaching · explanation · demonstration · walkthrough · prompting · cueing
condescending
Superior and dismissive manner
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- underestimatingMisjudging as less significant
oversimplifying · infantilizing · dumbing-down · minimizing · dismissive · simplistic · disrespectful · insulting · humoring · micromanaging
puree
Smoothly blended food
weaning · solids · applesauce · cereal · yogurt · bottle · formula · mealtime · nutrition · nourishment
spoonfeedingself-directed learning
Education you control yourself
self-teaching · learning by doing · trial and error · sink or swim · independent learning
spoonfeedingchallenging
Hard to accomplish
baptism by fire · tough love · indirect communication · obfuscating · information overload
spoonfeedingSocratic method
Teaching by strategic questioning
discovery learning · constructivism · active learning · challenging · scaffolding
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