Teaching kids to think outside the box...
 

...can come back and bite you in the butt!

My youngest grandson, Ronnie, is 9 and is in 4th grade. He is extremely smart and his mother teaches him to think and form his own ideas and opinions. Kim just called me to tell me this wonderful example of how smart our little Ronnie is and how he is able to express himself.

So for homework they had to read a story and answer a few questions. One of the questions was, "Do you think that the author succeeded in meeting his purpose?" (What kind of question is that to ask a 4th grader?)

Ronnie's reply, "Yes, I believe that the author succeeded in meeting his purpose because the author always meets his purpose".

Kim kindly explained that yes, Ronnie, you are correct, but that isn't the answer that the teacher is looking for.

What a kid!

Gosh they are smarter than we ever give them credit for, aren't they? LOL

But I'm more interested in this rumor you are starting when you say "Teaching a kid to think outside the box".... is that possible? Is it true? Can it be done????? ;)

My husbands kids completely freeze up and come apart at the seams when they are faced with a dilemma or a choice decision. How do I TEACH them to think outside the box??? LOL

LOL, I love that answer!

Hummm, I'm not sure if you are joking or really want ideas, but I'm going to take it that you are serious.

Raising our three, we encouraged them to figure our problems - and stood by to pick up offer an encouraging work to clean up their own mess. We engaged in conversations and allowed them the freedon to speak their minds, as long as they were respectful (respect wasn't optional).


We taught them to do things, read directions, and NOT BE AFRAID of making mistakes. The only way you can learn to think is to be free to make mistakes - you learn what to do and what not to do. Our children were raised on a farm. At an early age they had responsibilities. We weren't afraid to trust them to do BIG jobs. One small example is that during hay season the youngest (daughter) started when she was still in elementary school driving our dulie truck pulling a 30' hay trailer in the hay fields while the two boys, their father and I picked up hay and stacked it on the trailer. They helped to train horses, their take care of health issues, birthing, shots, etc. and weren't protected from breeding, births and death - after all those things are part of life. Our kids were cherished members of our family and although they were always allowed to "just be kids" they were treated with respect as a knowledgeable human beings. And over the years I learnd so much from them!!!


We were stric parents and had rules and each of which had a consequence which was explained in detail. Then we let them make their own choices (as much as we could). Our kids were taught that if you got caught doing wrong then you faced the conseuences (negative) - just as if you did right there were consequences (positive). If serving the sentence was worth the consequence (and sometimes it is :D) then go for it, but be ready to pay the price.

Our three are adults 30, 29, and 28 (in a few days). They all are doing fantastic, have great careers, know how to think through problems and make decisions based on possible positive and negative outcomes. I feel so proud of our three - hubby and I feel that if we do nothing else in our life we have made a positive impace on society with our three wonderful kids.

:lol tears Sorry for getting on my soapbox, :lol tears but you did ask :lol tears

Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately I am not their mother. That is how I would be, respect them, learn from them, teach them responsibility and good & bad consequences of their actions. When they are with us, I do make them read directions, I make them google things when they ask questions so they know. Sometimes they get so mad at me for making them do the legwork (they are VERY lazy), but I don't care. I know they will be better people in the end and more proud of themselves eventually that they do things on their own. Sadly their mother holds their hands through everything in life, from hand picking their school classes to paying for a car for the severely underemployed 18 year old. She'd rather CONTROL them, then teach them how to be productive members of society.

Your kids sound wonderful, you should be proud! :) (I know you are!)

Ronnie is too cute! Loved his answer!

I'm with Ronnie...if the book got published and he's reading it then duh, the author suceeded in meeting his purpose of writing the book.

LoL

Questions like that while hard for adults to even contemplate answering, I love seeing posed to kids.
Kids are so abstract in thinkibg in some ways to us but everything is so lateral to them they have the best answers!

I just feel it expands their minds before they form inhibitions in thinking...ya know sometimes that stinking logic just gets in the way.