#12 of Pam Sorooshian's "how to"
Sandra Dodd
12. Don't try to "make kids think." They WILL think, you don't have
to make them. Don't use every opportunity to force them to learn
something. They WILL learn something at every opportunity, you don't
have to force it. Don't answer a question by telling them to "look it
up" or by asking them another question. If you know the answer, give
it. If you don't, then HELP them find it. Speculating about an answer
often leads to a good conversation. If your child stops seeing you as
helpful when they have questions, they'll stop coming to you with
their questions. Is that what you really want?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
to make them. Don't use every opportunity to force them to learn
something. They WILL learn something at every opportunity, you don't
have to force it. Don't answer a question by telling them to "look it
up" or by asking them another question. If you know the answer, give
it. If you don't, then HELP them find it. Speculating about an answer
often leads to a good conversation. If your child stops seeing you as
helpful when they have questions, they'll stop coming to you with
their questions. Is that what you really want?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]