The New York Culture: The power of planning in childhood: how to teach your child to build the future

Teaching children how to plan is more than an educational strategy - it is a mission for parents and educators who want to raise autonomous, creative, and well-prepared individuals.

Have you ever thought about how many challenges a child faces each day? Learning to plan can be the difference between a frustrating day and a journey filled with small victories. Let’s explore, step by step, why planning should be part of a child’s upbringing.

Planning is not just an adult organizational tool—it is a vital life skill that can and should be taught to children from an early age. In a fast-paced and demanding world, helping children develop this ability gives them a solid foundation for autonomy, creativity, and emotional well-being.

Inspiring Story

Steve Jobs, the genius behind Apple, was known for his ability to anticipate the future. But what few people know is that, as a child, he learned from his father to "see the structure behind things." Planning was a serious game. This example shows how, with the right stimuli, children can learn to visualize steps, predict outcomes, and make better decisions.

In Brazil, educator and playwright Antônio Carlos dos Santos brings innovative contributions through what he calls the Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy (PCA). His methods—such as the Puppet Theater Mané Beiçudo (TBMB), Mindset, Action, and Theater (MAT), and Theater Movement (ThM)—encourage children to think creatively and structure their ideas in clear stages. One example: in the TBMB, the child is encouraged to create a puppet theater that requires logical sequencing, objectives, and problem-solving for the characters. This is planning, in a playful and engaging way.

Practical Tip

Before bedtime, invite your child to plan the next day. Together, make a list of three important things: something they need to do, something they want to do, and something they can help with. Small steps build big lessons.

The collection “The Thousand Faces Little Witch collection teaches you to live better”, also by Antônio Carlos dos Santos, is a powerful educational tool for introducing planning to children. In the first book, titled Planning, the charming little witch shows how planning can make life more fun, productive, and less stressful. In a light-hearted way, she helps the child organize their thinking—whether it’s remembering the toothpaste when brushing teeth or packing their school bag without forgetting lunch.

Curiosity Box

Did you know that the child’s brain is as moldable as clay? Studies show that neural networks associated with planning develop rapidly between the ages of 3 and 7. The more stimulating the activities, the more synapses are formed.

Teaching planning also strengthens a child’s ability to deal with frustration. When a plan doesn’t work, they learn to reassess, adapt, and try again. This cycle builds resilience and expands emotional intelligence.

Motivational Quote

“Planning is the art of keeping your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds, it is dreaming with your eyes open. And every child who learns to dream like this begins to fly.” - Antônio Carlos dos Santos.

This is not about turning childhood into a rigid schedule of goals. It’s about giving meaning and direction to everyday actions. When a child learns to plan, they also learn to respect time, limits, and resources. Above all, they learn that it’s possible to achieve dreams—even if they start small. That’s the beauty of the pedagogy of autonomy: forming individuals who are capable of choosing, evaluating, and starting over.

In the classroom, planning also boosts performance. Activities like building their own study schedule or planning a group project help children internalize concepts like responsibility, collaboration, and time management. According to neuroeducation research, these experiences enhance working memory and activate the prefrontal cortex—the area of the brain responsible for critical thinking.

Practical Tip

Use visual calendars and task boards with colorful stickers. These help children "see time" and feel like protagonists of their own day.

More than preparing children for the job market or university, teaching planning from childhood is an act of care in human formation. Children who learn to plan are more creative, more empathetic, and more confident. They are small human beings with a great potential to make a difference in the world. Why not start today with your child?

Resources

Book Series: “The Thousand Faces Little Witch collection teaches you to live better”
Available at Amazon.com.br. Search for the collection title on the site.

https://www.amazon.com/author/antoniosantos

Follow author Antônio Carlos dos Santos: