Why Kids Need Time
Have you ever asked your child a question and waited for an answer, only to have them stay quiet?
It can be easy to assume that they do not know the answer.
But sometimes children simply need more time to think.
They may need to remember what they have learned, work out what the question means or decide how they want to answer.
Giving children time to think can give them a better opportunity to use what they know.
Children Do Not Always Answer Straight Away
Children can take different amounts of time to respond to questions.
A child may know the answer but need a few moments to find it in their memory.
They may also be trying to work out how to explain their thinking.
A pause does not necessarily mean that a child does not understand.
Thinking Takes Time
When children are learning something new, they may need to work through several steps before they can respond.
For example, if you ask a child to spell a word, they may need to:
- Think about the word
- Say the word
- Listen for the sounds
- Remember the letters
- Decide what to write
That process can take time.
Giving your child a moment to think allows them to work through the steps themselves.
Give Your Child a Chance to Remember
Sometimes children have learned something but cannot immediately bring it back to mind.
A little extra time can give them an opportunity to search their memory.
Instead of immediately giving them the answer, wait and see whether they can remember it themselves.
You might be surprised by what they come up with when they are not rushed.
Try Not to Answer Too Quickly
Parents naturally want to help their children.
If a child takes a while to answer, it can be tempting to fill the silence or tell them what they need to know.
Sometimes, however, giving the answer too quickly means the child misses the opportunity to work it out for themselves.
A short pause can give your child valuable thinking time.
Simple Prompts Can Help
Giving children thinking time does not mean leaving them completely on their own.
If your child is struggling, you can offer a small prompt without immediately giving them the answer.
Try saying:
- “Take your time.”
- “What do you remember?”
- “Have another think.”
- “What sound can you hear?”
- “What could you try?”
These prompts can encourage children to keep thinking.
Thinking Time Helps With Spelling
Spelling is a good example of why children need time to think.
When you say a word, your child may need to listen carefully before deciding which letters to write.
For a simple word such as cat, they need to think about the sounds they hear and the letters that represent those sounds.
You can ask:
- What sound do you hear first?
- What sound do you hear in the middle?
- What sound do you hear at the end?
Then give your child time to work out the letters.
Thinking Time Helps With Handwriting
Children can also benefit from having time to think during handwriting practice.
If they are unsure how to form a letter, give them a chance to look at the letter and think about where they should begin.
You can ask questions such as:
- “Where do you think the letter starts?”
- “Which way does the pencil move?”
- “Does that look like the letter you wanted to write?”
This encourages children to think about their writing rather than simply waiting for an adult to correct it.
Thinking Time Helps With Problem Solving
Children need opportunities to work out problems for themselves.
This might involve a maths question, a spelling problem, a reading question or something as simple as working out what comes next in a pattern.
If adults always provide the answer immediately, children have fewer opportunities to practise thinking through problems.
Allowing children to have a go helps them develop confidence in their own ability to work things out.
Children May Need More Time With New Skills
New skills can take longer to think through.
A child who is just learning something may need to remember several pieces of information at once.
As the skill becomes more familiar, they may respond more quickly.
This is another reason not to assume that a slow answer means a child does not understand.
Do Not Confuse Speed With Learning
Being able to answer quickly is not the same thing as understanding something well.
Some children need more time to process information, while others may respond quickly.
The important thing is whether the child is learning and developing their understanding, not simply how fast they answer.
Learning does not have to happen at top speed.
Give Children Time Without Making It Awkward
You do not need to make a big deal about waiting.
Ask the question, pause and give your child the space to think.
If they need help, offer a small prompt.
If they still cannot work it out, help them and come back to the skill again another time.
The aim is to give children opportunities to think without making them feel pressured.
Thinking Time Can Build Confidence
Children can feel proud when they work something out for themselves.
Even if they needed a little time or a small prompt, they have had the opportunity to use their own knowledge.
Over time, these experiences can help children become more confident about tackling new tasks.
They begin to learn that they do not always need an adult to provide the answer immediately.
Be Patient With the Learning Process
Children are still developing their ability to remember, process information and solve problems.
Some days they may answer quickly, while on other days they may need more support.
Try to give them the time they need without turning every question into a test.
A calm approach can make it easier for children to think, try and learn.
Australian Educational Resources for Children
Children benefit from opportunities to practise thinking, remembering and using their skills in different ways.
Our Australian educational resources give families practical ways to support learning at home, including handwriting, phonics, spelling, maths and other early learning skills.
Resources are available across Australian state and territory handwriting styles, helping families choose educational resources that match the handwriting style used at school.
Give Your Child Time to Think
Children do not always know an answer immediately.
Sometimes they simply need a little extra time to remember what they know, understand the question or work out what to do next.
Pause before giving the answer, encourage your child to have another think and offer help when they genuinely need it.
Giving children time to think can help them become more confident and independent learners.
