Your 7-Year-Old: What if? What if? What if?

What if? What if? What if?

Now able to move beyond literal thinking and imagine other possibilities, your child spends a great deal of time pondering the "what ifs" of life. Some kids get so snagged on this question that it becomes a bit annoying. But when you reframe it as the sign of a bright, scientific mind, it's much easier to bear – even if you don't always have the answers.
Your 7-year-old now

"What if?" is a favorite question of second graders: "What if the road ended around the next curve?" "What if I threw this ball up to the top of that tree?" "What if we saved the hail in the freezer?"

There's a reason for all this curiosity. Your child is aware that circumstances and conditions can change. In a way, she's tossing out scientific hypotheses and figuring out the plausible possibilities.

Science is fun at this age. Second graders love to conduct experiments, make observations, and record their findings. Teachers help them do this in school, but you can create simple science projects at home, too. Track the phases of the moon on a chart for a month. What happens? Place a cup of juice in the freezer and monitor how long it takes to freeze; how long will it then take to thaw?

Fuel your child's interests with library books. These might seem above her level, but if you read them together she can expand her understanding of the scientific concepts that interest her, such as geology, dinosaurs, and space. Look up the answers to questions you don't know online. See if there's a local museum you can visit to strike while the iron of interest is hot.

Your life now

Are evenings often rushed at your house? One way to connect with your child is to take her out to breakfast sometimes. She'll enjoy the attention and you'll both start your day in a special way. Bonus: It's generally a cheaper meal than dinner.