Whether the result is high, average or lower than you hoped, how you talk about it matters more than the number itself.
Start with the experience
Ask first: "How did you find the puzzles? Which ones were fun? Which were tricky?" This keeps the focus on thinking, not on the score.
Keep numbers in perspective
- Many parents choose not to share the exact number with younger children at all.
- If you do, explain it simply: "It shows how you solved these puzzles today, compared with other kids your age."
- Remind them that results change as they grow and practise.
Avoid labels
"You're a genius" can create pressure to always look clever. "You're not a maths person" can stop a child from trying. Neither helps. Talk about what they did, not who they are.
Celebrate effort and strategies
- "You took your time on the hard ones."
- "You looked for the pattern in the shapes. That's how good puzzlers think."
Use it as a starting point
Pick an area to enjoy together: more pattern games, a new board game, more reading. Make it about fun and growth, not fixing a weakness.
Siblings
Never compare results between children. Every child grows at their own pace and in their own way.
The Smart Kids Club keeps the focus on growth: stars for right answers, streaks for showing up, and an explanation for every puzzle, with no public rankings for kids.