Why working things out loud helps children reason, problem-solve, and explain themselves.
When kids talk things through – whether it’s how to fix a friendship, solve a puzzle, or explain why you’re wrong about crisps being dinner – they’re doing way more than filling the air with words.
They’re learning to think.
They’re learning to reason.
They’re learning to explain themselves clearly.
Skills that will help them find their place in the wider world.
1. Talking builds independent thinkers
When kids explain something in their own words, they’re not parroting, they’re processing.
Research shows that children who can tell coherent stories early on develop better problem-solving, reading, and writing skills up to 10 years later (Research Outreach).
So that meandering advice about dogs, rain clouds and cheese? That’s not nonsense. That’s practice in structuring thoughts and developing great thinking and ideas.
2. Talking through problems = sharper reasoning
Psychologists call it self-explanation. When kids verbalise how they solved a puzzle or why they’d handle a situation a certain way, their understanding and memory improve dramatically (Journal of Educational Psychology, 2018).
Which is why a 6 year old’s advice might sound blunt, but often it’s also perfectly logical reasoning in action.
3. Conversation grows community
When children share their thoughts, they’re not just solving your problem — they’re learning to contribute to a wider circle and being part of something bigger.
It seems to me, the more we talk about what it is to be a happier human, the more we go back to our place in our communities, and our position in it.
Duke University found that families who share oral stories raise kids with better emotional regulation and stronger resilience (Duke University, 2020).
And in classrooms, storytelling and discussion boost engagement, friendships, and collaboration (Edutopia).
So every time a child shares advice, they’re practising how to be part of a community.
4. Explaining builds empathy
By answering your questions, children are practising perspective-taking , so imagining what it feels like to be in someone else’s shoes.
Kids who regularly explain and story-tell score higher in empathy and peer relationships (American Psychological Association, 2018).
So when a child advises you some straight forward advice on how to fix your friendship drama, they’re also learning compassion.
5. Talking sticks
Our brains are wired to remember explanations and stories far longer than raw facts. Harvard research shows narrative-style reasoning makes information stickier and more meaningful (Harvard Business, 2019).
When kids talk through advice, it’s not just entertaining, it’s education that lasts.
Why It Matters Here
A Little Good Advice isn’t just about collecting funny kid quotes.
It’s about giving children space to:
- Think for themselves
- Work things out
- Explain their ideas clearly
- Solve problems out loud
- Understand others
- And maybe even teach grown-ups a thing or two along the way
That’s why we’re here. To give them the mic. 🎤
Oh and this might be a useful way to widen learning if you’re home schooling.
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