T

he ability to think clearly begins with the willingness to pause. In a world that prizes speed and certainty, children need space to consider more than one angle before making up their minds. Weighing different sides isn’t about indecision—it’s about discipline. It teaches kids that most questions don’t have one obvious answer, and that good thinking means setting assumptions aside long enough to ask, “What else could be true?”

One morning, my daughter insisted her teacher had been unfair. I asked what happened, and she laid out her side with conviction. I didn’t challenge her—but I did ask, “What might the teacher have seen?” She paused, thought, and then added a few more details: she had been whispering with a friend; the lesson had already started. Her frustration didn’t vanish, but her view widened. That small moment—of seeing beyond her own experience—made her more thoughtful the next time something felt unfair.

Encourage this habit by asking your child to explain different viewpoints, even ones they don’t agree with. Discuss a story from more than one character’s eyes. Talk through a real-world issue and ask what someone else might believe, and why. You’re not asking them to agree—you’re asking them to think. When they practice holding multiple ideas at once, they build the patience and clarity that real reasoning requires.

TIPS

• Ask your child to consider another perspective, especially during disagreements.
• Use stories or real situations to practice switching viewpoints.
• Praise thoughtfulness over quick conclusions.

ACTIVITIES

• Flip It Talk: During a discussion, say, “What might someone else think about this?” Explore both views together.
• Story Shift: After reading or watching something, ask, “How would the story change if told from another character’s point of view?”