Day 11: Eleven Ways to Model Thinking – Your Child Learns by Watching You

By slowing down and letting children hear your planning, problem-solving, and calm decision-making, you turn everyday moments into powerful lessons in how to think.

It’s 8 AM and the morning hustle is in full swing. You’re scrambling eggs, mentally noting: “We’re out of bread, so I’ll pack pasta for lunch instead… Don’t forget the permission slip on the counter… Need to warm up the car before we leave.” By the time you and your child head out the door, everything essential has been handled – but all your child saw was mom or dad magically getting it done. They didn’t hear the careful planning and problem-solving happening in your head.

On Day 10, we focused on boosting your child’s thinking through reading. Today, the focus shifts to your thinking. One of the most powerful (and simplest) teaching tools is just this: narrate what’s going on in your mind as you tackle everyday tasks. Metacognition – thinking about your thinking – is the foundation of all those executive function skills we’ve been building. When you verbalize your decision-making or troubleshooting process, your child gets a peek into how an organized, flexible brain works in real life. It’s like an apprenticeship in problem-solving, and you don’t need a lesson plan or any extra time. Our Day 11 printable provides prompts to help you remember to share your thought process during routine activities. You can model almost any skill – planning, self-monitoring, time management, emotional regulation – just by “thinking out loud.”

Try sprinkling these kinds of comments into your day-to-day tasks:

• Planning: “Hmm, I need to write this card and wrap a gift. Which one should I do first? I think writing the card is quicker, so I’ll start there.” (You’re showing how to prioritize and plan a sequence.)

• Self-Correction: “Uh oh, I started this recipe and realized I’m out of eggs. Let me pause and rethink: I can either borrow eggs from the neighbor or find a substitute. I’ll check the pantry for a solution.” (You’re demonstrating flexibility and problem-solving when things don’t go as planned.)

• Time Management: “This errand will take about 20 minutes, and I only have 5 minutes before my meeting. I’ll wait and do it after lunch so I’m not rushed.” (You’re highlighting awareness of time and the importance of not overloading a short window – a lesson in smart scheduling.)

• Emotional Regulation: “I’m really frustrated that these string lights aren’t working. I’m going to take three deep breaths to calm down, then try plugging them into a different outlet.” (You’re modeling self-calming techniques in the face of frustration.)

These little verbal insights are pure gold for a child. They reveal the hidden steps adults take to stay organized, adapt, and cope with feelings. Over time, your child will start imitating this self-talk, whether it’s “What do I do first?” when starting homework or “Let me calm down” when upset. In short, you’re teaching them how to think, not just what to think.

Reflection: What’s one routine task today where you can slow down and narrate your thought process? How might your child benefit from hearing how you make decisions or handle a mistake in real time?

Tomorrow on Day 12, our final day, we’ll celebrate how far you and your child have come – and share a few lasting takeaways to carry this calm, connected momentum into the new year.

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