There are times when answering a question with a question is appropriate. This is rarely more true than when a child asks for an adult to solve a problem that they themselves could solve with just a little more thought. When Susie says "Bobby keeps knocking down my blocks" or Michael says "This puzzle piece won't fit" you are faced with a choice as a parent. Solve the problem for the child or do what we do and ask "And what do you think could be done about that?". The younger the child the more likely you will get a shoulder shrug, but to ensure that children are solving more problems via thinking as they get older, you can present them with practice. What follows are some examples of everyday activities that encourage thought and self-reliance versus dependence on others to make the world work in a way that makes them comfortable.