Learning Beyond the Books: Six Skills Smart Kids Need

Raising smart kids isn't about teaching to the tests, it's about building brainpower.

December 29, 2015

Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D.,

Raising smart kids isn't about teaching to the tests, it's about building brainpower. Kids who can seek information, connect ideas and apply what they've learned, aren't just book-smart, they are life-smart. Cultivate your student's success with these essential skills.

1. Growth Mindset

What it is: Smart kids define intelligence in terms of learning, not as a fixed trait. Decades of research by developmental psychologist Carol Dweck, PhD, and her colleagues shows kids who think in terms of ability give up quickly when challenged. They see failure as proof that they don't have what it takes. Kids who believe intelligence is developed are not discouraged by failure. These learners seek challenges, think creatively and thrive despite setbacks.

How to build it: Reinforce the belief that talents are developed, not a matter of biological inheritance. Praise your child for his or her effort and persistence, rather than intelligence. For example, say, "I'm proud of you for playing such a difficult song, you really stretched your skills" instead of "You're a talented musician."

2. Investigative Approach

What it is: Smart kids can define a problem, formulate options, test potential solutions and decide on a course of action. These are important life skills. Zoos, aquariums, parks and science centers are fantastic learning laboratories.

How to build it: Teach investigative concepts and skills at each stage of your child's development. Double your cookie recipe and let kids determine how much butter and flour you need. Study bridges you cross to understand their design. Ask kids how they could get over the river without a bridge. Engage your child's curiosity outside the classroom and model problem-solving strategies.

3. Emotional Intelligence

What it is: Smart kids recognize and regulate their own emotions and empathize with others. "Kids who develop these skills early in life get better grades, are less susceptible to anxiety and depression, and have healthier, more fulfilling relationships," says Linda Lantieri, co-founder of the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program, a social and emotional learning program implemented in more than 400 schools. Kids who can self-soothe when stressed are ready and able to learn from their experiences, without distracting emotional drama.

How to build it: Regulating emotions doesn't mean stifling them, says Lantieri. Don't diminish your child's feelings, rather help him understand what's causing them. Increase his emotion-related vocabulary by introducing him to words like angry, frustrated, jealous, excited and elated. Children should be able to describe their feelings with some specificity, rather than saying they feel good or bad. Use your own upsets as teaching opportunities. Explain step-by-step how you stop, calm down, refocus and then act.

When you give kids the skills to direct their own learning and express their ideas, you facilitate success in school and in life.

4. Self-Expression

What it is: Smart kids develop a strong sense of self. They know their own strengths and challenges and make wise decisions. Kids crave a sense of uniqueness and they may feel pressured by intense demands to get good grades, to fit in socially, and to grow up before they're ready, says Brandie Oliver, assistant professor of counselor education at Butler University in Indianapolis. Finding their own identity can be awkward and frustrating. It also subjects kids to risk. Kids need skills to stand up for themselves.

How to build it: "It is common for parents to think they are in the loop when they don't know as much as they think, says Oliver. "Kids share information with parents through a filter." Sometimes they embellish or omit key details. Listen deeply and encourage sharing. Validate your child's perspective even when you don't agree. Model the use of "I" messages, such as "I think" or "I feel." Kids who can voice their opinions respectfully become productive members of the community.

5. Metacognitive Understanding

What it is: Smart kids think about their own thinking: they can take multiple perspectives and they're aware of their own biases and assumptions. "Metacognition isn't about grades," says Leif Gustavson, PhD, associate professor of education at Arcadia University in Glenside, Penn., "but it helps kids study efficiently and use knowledge effectively." Students need to understand how and why they are learning the material in a particular class. When students understand teachers' methods, they can direct their own learning.

How to build it: When your child completes an assignment or exam, ask "how did it go? What went well? What would you do differently next time?" Also, ask kids to connect previous learning to new experiences. This helps achieve deeper understanding. Encourage your child to apply her learning, even if she feels uncomfortable. Reflection is critical.