--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Children have real understanding only of…" description: "\"Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves, and each time that we try to teach them too quickly, we keep them from rein..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jean-piaget-4336_children_children-have-real-understanding-only-of_2167110.jpg" --- # Children have real understanding only of that which they… ![“Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves, and each time that we try to teach them too quickly, we keep them from reinventing it themselves.” quote by Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jean-piaget-4336_children_children-have-real-understanding-only-of_2167110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jean-piaget-4336_children_children-have-real-understanding-only-of_2167110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jean-piaget-4336_children_children-have-real-understanding-only-of_2167110.jpg) > “Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves, and each time that we try to teach them too quickly, we keep them from reinventing it themselves.” [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children learn best when they discover concepts on their own; forced instruction hinders their natural creative process. **In simple terms:** Kids learn by inventing, not being told. Key Takeaway Encourage self‑discovery in teaching. Themes education creativity development Mood curious inspired Type pedagogical inspirational When to use this quote - classroom learning - parental guidance - STEM projects - creative play Key Concepts constructivism autonomy intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance guidance with freedom? - What discoveries have you made through self‑exploration? A Different Perspective If guidance is too vague, children may flounder without direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-real-703009/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Invent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invent/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Reinventing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reinventing/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-quickly-383064/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teaching and learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-and-learning/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Invent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-invent-4624013/) ## Related quotes > [Anyone doesn't teach you much more quickly as the book of life,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/anyone-doesn-t-teach-you-much-more-quickly-as-the-book-of-life/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [I've always been drawn to and fascinated by physical and psychological change. If I'm able to make pictures of children that are so real,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jock-sturges/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-and-fascinated-by-physical-and/) [Jock Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jock-sturges/) > [“A housewife's work has no results: it simply has to be done again. Bringing up children is not a real occupation, because children come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/a-housewife-s-work-has-no-results-it-simply-has-to-be-done-again/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [Bringing up children is not a real occupation, because children come up just the same, brought or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/bringing-up-children-is-not-a-real-occupation-because-children-come/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [Most schools have only a microwave or deep fryer, hardly the tools needed to feed our children real, fresh food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-schools-have-only-a-microwave-or-deep-fryer-hardly-the-tools/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The wider the exposure that we give children of the real working world, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/the-wider-the-exposure-that-we-give-children-of-the-real-working/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [A man who is not a father to his children can never be a real man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/a-man-who-is-not-a-father-to-his-children-can-never-be-a-real-man/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [I have an array of beautiful godchildren and nephews and nieces, and children are my real thing, my real love, and I can't wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/i-have-an-array-of-beautiful-godchildren-and-nephews-and-nieces-and/) [Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/) > [“Such bliss is not meant to last. In my husband's house, my children were my real gifts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ru-freeman/such-bliss-is-not-meant-to-last-in-my-husband-s-house-my-children/) [Ru Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ru-freeman/) > [Having children with someone is the real bond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/having-children-with-someone-is-the-real-bond/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [It all sounds rather naive and sentimental to be talking about children laughing and dancing and singing together when we all know perfectly well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/it-all-sounds-rather-naive-and-sentimental-to-be-talking-about/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [We must teach our children that the real measure of their success in life is how much they'd be worth if they had absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mueller/we-must-teach-our-children-that-the-real-measure-of-their-success-in/) [Walt Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mueller/) > [My children keep me real and keep me honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/my-children-keep-me-real-and-keep-me-honest/) [Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/) > [Most people put their childhood away as if it was an old hat. They forget it as if it was a phone number that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-k-stner/most-people-put-their-childhood-away-as-if-it-was-an-old-hat-they/) [Erich Kastner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-k-stner/) > [We learn more when we are compelled to invent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/we-learn-more-when-we-are-compelled-to-invent/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) ## More by Jean Piaget > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Each time one prematurely teaches a child something he could have discovered himself, that child is kept from inventing it and consequently from understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/each-time-one-prematurely-teaches-a-child-something-he-could-have/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Childish egocentrism is, in its essence, an inability to differentiate between the ego and the social environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/childish-egocentrism-is-in-its-essence-an-inability-to-differentiate/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“A fact is first an answer to a question. If Sartre had consulted psychologists before judging them in the light of his own genius,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/a-fact-is-first-an-answer-to-a-question-if-sartre-had-consulted/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [If logic itself is created rather than being inborn, it follows that the first task of education is to form reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/if-logic-itself-is-created-rather-than-being-inborn-it-follows-that/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Experience precedes understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/experience-precedes-understanding/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Equilibrium is the profoundest tendency of all human activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/equilibrium-is-the-profoundest-tendency-of-all-human-activity/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“To expect a fact, is by definition to expect the isolated, it is for positivism, to prefer the ‘accident’ to the essential, the contingent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/to-expect-a-fact-is-by-definition-to-expect-the-isolated-it-is-for/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Knowing reality means constructing systems of transformations that correspond, more or less adequately, to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/knowing-reality-means-constructing-systems-of-transformations-that/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [The majority of parents are poor psychologists and give their children the most questionable moral trainings. It is perhaps in this domain that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-majority-of-parents-are-poor-psychologists-and-give-their/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [As you know, Bergson pointed out that there is no such thing as disorder but rather two sorts of order, geometric and living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/as-you-know-bergson-pointed-out-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [For the fundamental fact of human psychology is that society, instead of remaining almost entirely inside the individual organism as in the case of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/for-the-fundamental-fact-of-human-psychology-is-that-society-instead/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [What is desired is that the teacher ceased being a lecturer, satisfied with transmitting ready-made solutions. His role should rather be that of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/what-is-desired-is-that-the-teacher-ceased-being-a-lecturer-satisfied/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“I know some very intelligent philosophers, not at all dogmatic, who believe that “science” cannot introduce the concept of finality in the analysis and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/i-know-some-very-intelligent-philosophers-not-at-all-dogmatic-who/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) [Explore all 112 Jean Piaget quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves, and each time that we try to teach them too quickly, we keep them from reinventing it themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Piaget" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/children-have-real-understanding-only-of-that-which-they-invent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/children-have-real-understanding-only-of-that-which-they-invent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jean-piaget-4336_children_children-have-real-understanding-only-of_2167110.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jean-piaget-4336_children_children-have-real-understanding-only-of_2167110.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jean-piaget-4336_children_children-have-real-understanding-only-of_2167110.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves, and each time that we try to…” — Jean Piaget", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jean Piaget", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Children have real understanding only of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/children-have-real-understanding-only-of-that-which-they-invent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/children-have-real-understanding-only-of-that-which-they-invent/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```