Best School for Child Who Gives up too Easily

I have a bright and energetic 4-year-old daughter. This is not just the observation of a fond parent but of family and friends who know her well. She has been in a Montessori school since she was 1. When we do activities together at home, I notice that at the slightest hint that she has to put the effort into something, she begins to withdraw. The same thing happens at school.
When I was in school, I was often called lazy and unwilling to work. And I remember always feeling overwhelmed with challenging new tasks. My concern is that my daughter could be setting into a life path like mine. Could she become so easily frustrated that she will not try anything challenging? I would like to help my child avoid the problems I faced. -- Following in my Footsteps
Answer: Montessori schools tend to let children be self-paced. Your daughter has gotten in the habit of backing away from difficult tasks. It might be a very good idea to remove her from the Montessori environment and place her in a preschool that is more structured and requires the completion of tasks. She needs to have someone overseeing her work and seeing that it gets done.
When you are working with your child at home, sit with her until a task is completed. For example, try working together on crafts projects. Start with simple projects that can be broken down into a few very manageable steps. Say to your child: "We'll have fun and keep doing this until it's done." This will help break her habit of giving up so quickly.