--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Children need to have both time to think…" description: "\"Children need to have both time to think and the motivation to think for themselves, to develop an expert reading brain, before the digital mode domina..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/maryanne-wolf-10802_brain_children-need-to-have-both-time-to-think_2423926.jpg" --- # Children need to have both time to think and the… ![“Children need to have both time to think and the motivation to think for themselves, to develop an expert reading brain, before the digital mode dominates their reading. The immediacy and volume of information should not be confused with true knowledge.” quote by Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/maryanne-wolf-10802_brain_children-need-to-have-both-time-to-think_2423926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/maryanne-wolf-10802_brain_children-need-to-have-both-time-to-think_2423926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/maryanne-wolf-10802_brain_children-need-to-have-both-time-to-think_2423926.jpg) > “Children need to have both time to think and the motivation to think for themselves, to develop an expert reading brain, before the digital mode dominates their reading. The immediacy and volume of information should not be confused with true knowledge.” [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children need time and motivation to think independently before digital overload replaces deep reading. **In simple terms:** Think independently before digital overload. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent thinking in kids. Themes education technology mindfulness Mood concerned hopeful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - classroom design - home reading routines - screen time limits - critical thinking exercises Key Concepts cognitive development digital literacy Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance screen time and deep reading? - What activities foster independent thought? A Different Perspective Digital tools can also enhance learning when used wisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [True knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-knowledge/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [As work in neurosciences indicates, the acquisition of literacy necessitated a new circuit in our species' brain more than 6,000 years ago. That circuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/as-work-in-neurosciences-indicates-the-acquisition-of-literacy/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [There's an old rule in neuroscience that does not alter with age: use it or lose it. It is a very hopeful principle when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/there-s-an-old-rule-in-neuroscience-that-does-not-alter-with-age-use/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [The attention span of children may be one of the main reasons why an immersion in on-screen reading is so engaging, and it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-attention-span-of-children-may-be-one-of-the-main-reasons-why-an/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [As a cognitive neuroscientist and scholar of reading, I am particularly concerned with the plight of the reading brain as it encounters this technologically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/as-a-cognitive-neuroscientist-and-scholar-of-reading-i-am/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I am an apologist for the reading brain. It represents a miracle that springs from the brain's unique capacity to rearrange itself to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/i-am-an-apologist-for-the-reading-brain-it-represents-a-miracle-that/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [“Motivation: to think myself successful!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/motivation-to-think-myself-successful/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [If you must have motivation, think of your paycheck on Friday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/if-you-must-have-motivation-think-of-your-paycheck-on-friday/) [Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/) > [Some days I paint and write and meditate, but some days I just sit about with zero motivation. I think that's natural though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/some-days-i-paint-and-write-and-meditate-but-some-days-i-just-sit/) [Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/) > [I think motivation is a thing that is inside of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-ryan/i-think-motivation-is-a-thing-that-is-inside-of-you/) [Rex Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-ryan/) > [“I don't think your motivation matters. All that matters is what you do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reki-kawahara/i-don-t-think-your-motivation-matters-all-that-matters-is-what-you-do/) [Reki Kawahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reki-kawahara/) > [It sounds cheesy to say it, but I think my motivation has always been to help others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/it-sounds-cheesy-to-say-it-but-i-think-my-motivation-has-always-been/) [Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/) > [When we think about labor, we usually think about motivation and payment as the same thing, but the reality is that we should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/when-we-think-about-labor-we-usually-think-about-motivation-and/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [People talk about great motivators, but I think motivation has to come from within the individual first, because if you haven't got that inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coleman/people-talk-about-great-motivators-but-i-think-motivation-has-to-come/) [Chris Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coleman/) > [The most self-disciplined people in the world aren't born with it, but at one point they start to think differently about self discipline. Easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-vaden/the-most-self-disciplined-people-in-the-world-aren-t-born-with-it-but/) [Rory Vaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-vaden/) > [I think motivation and drive, coupled with raw talent, help make founders successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/i-think-motivation-and-drive-coupled-with-raw-talent-help-make/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) ## More by Maryanne Wolf > [There's a richness that reading gives you, an opportunity to probe more than any other medium I know of. Reading is about not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/there-s-a-richness-that-reading-gives-you-an-opportunity-to-probe/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [Skimming has led, I believe, to a tendency to go to the sources that seem the simplest, most reduced, most familiar, and least cognitively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/skimming-has-led-i-believe-to-a-tendency-to-go-to-the-sources-that/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [The brain is constantly adapting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-brain-is-constantly-adapting/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [We humans invented literacy, which means it doesn't come for free with our genes like speech and vision. 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It represents a miracle that springs from the brain's unique capacity to rearrange itself to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/i-am-an-apologist-for-the-reading-brain-it-represents-a-miracle-that/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [We human beings were never born to read; we invented reading and then had to teach it to every new generation. Each new reader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/we-human-beings-were-never-born-to-read-we-invented-reading-and-then/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [When we have any function, whether it's language or vision or cognitive functions like memory, we aren't dealing with a straight line to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/when-we-have-any-function-whether-it-s-language-or-vision-or/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [Every opportunity to practice is a gift to the developing reader. Practice, practice, practice, in every form and medium!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/every-opportunity-to-practice-is-a-gift-to-the-developing-reader/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [Each young reader has to fashion an entirely new 'reading circuit' afresh every time. There is no one neat circuit just waiting to unfold.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/each-young-reader-has-to-fashion-an-entirely-new-reading-circuit/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) [Explore all 63 Maryanne Wolf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. 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