Teach your child how to think
Edward de Bono
Teach your child how to think
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Edward de Bono
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Have you ever wondered what makes a great thinker? Imagine being able to solve puzzles, make smart choices, and come up with creative ideas whenever you want. What if you could start learning these skills right now—and change the way you see the world forever?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers practical guidance for teaching children aged 9-12 how to develop clear and constructive thinking skills. Using examples, exercises, and games, it distinguishes between intelligence and thinking, encouraging active mental engagement over passive consumption. It's a helpful resource for parents seeking to nurture critical thinking in their children without exposing them to inappropriate content.
Why we rated Teach your child how to think 12LT
Teach your child how to think is written at a Level 7 reading level across 313 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Teach your child how to think works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Teach your child how to think as 12LT ("Light — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Teach your child how to think explores cognition in children, education, critical thinking, and problem solving — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about cognition in children, education, critical thinking.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LT — Light — ThematicNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0670830135
- Pages
- 313
- Publisher
- Viking
- Published
- 1993
- Type
- Fiction