My eight year old son Anthony poses these types of questions to me almost daily. Why does he poses such questions to me? He must know I would respond with a "YES!" to all of the questions. I introduced him to chess. I played hockey when I was younger and he is playing with some of the Legos I had when I was a kid. So why is he asking? I believe he is looking for my approval or it is his way to express that we have this common bond. Either way I hesitate to give him a quick, "yes". A quick response would end the conversation. His questions not only provide a window into his passions but also an poses an opportunity for us to have a longer conversation. I will typically respond with a question. "Why do you enjoy chess so much?" Sometimes, I will indirectly answer his question and follow up with a question. "I love hockey because it is a fast paced game and you switch from offensive to defensive in a blink of an eye. Are there things you enjoy about the game?" These types of responses expands our conversation. They also provide him an opportunity to explain his thoughts. I love listening to him speak and begin to develop his own opinions.
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