Most of us never got a formal lesson in how learning works, but we picked up messages about what counts as “smart,” what’s worth knowing, and how we’re supposed to learn.
But there’s a catch to an education built around knowing the right answers: Life doesn’t always come with a clear solution. And when uncertainty shows up, too many kids freeze.
Over the past 15 years as a business school professor, I’ve studied how successful people navigate complex problems when there isn’t a step-by-step guide. What I’ve learned is that the ability to move forward wisely when you don’t know the answer is a very valuable skill — and one we should teach our kids as early as possible.
Every summer for the last 12 years, when we go to the beach, I create a themed puzzle hunt for my daughters, niece, and nephew.
You must try several things out to find the non-obvious insight and solve the puzzle. Think Escape Room meets Treasure Hunt. There are few directions, so there is a lot of uncertainty and confusion.
