Encouraging your child to ask lots of questions helps her become a stronger thinker.

How to inspire curiosity, creative thinking, and joy along your child's path to greater knowledge

Like most kids, my daughter Carlota is intently curious. She never stops asking questions. And like most parents, there are times I wish she'd stop. But then I have to remember that when I was a child, I had many questions about the world. Sadly, my parents were not always able to answer my constant questions. They didn’t have the time or energy, so I gradually stopped asking.

When I started school, I never felt quite confident enough to ask questions. Fortunately, I had one kind teacher who recognized that I wasn't a terrible student; I was just fearful. She began spending extra time with me, helping to draw me out. She listened to me and let me stumble over letters or words and, slowly, I began to ask questions.

Is it any surprise that I became a journalist? I now ask questions for a living, learning as I go. Some years ago, I started writing a list of questions: "Why are we born? What is our purpose? Why do we lose the people we love?" Before long, those questions became the foundation for my book, A Book of Questions: A Playful Journal to Keep Thoughts and Feelings. I dedicated my book to Carlota, the child I hope will never stop asking questions and never take no for an answer.
Please Ask Me Why
In theory, all parents want to give confidence their children’s interest, and that means answering lots of questions. But in practice, the endless "Why?" questions can get tedious and frustrating. It's helpful to try to see the world during your child's eyes. Everything is interesting, everything is unsolved. Try to remember how puzzled you once were by the things you saw and experienced, and how you needed someone to explain what was going on. By answering questions, you're showing your child respect. By keeping the dialogue open, you're telling your kids that you value their ideas and thoughts. So encourage your child to ask questions. It will help him:

Gain control over his world. You’re establishing a pattern of questioning that hopefully will stay with your child throughout his life. Convey to your child that the question is sometimes more important than the answer. Answers don’t always come easily, but when you ask the right questions you're on the way to finding out the truth.

Learn to think critically. It’s important to not simply accept things as they are given. We want our children to see that we have a right to dig and find the satisfactory answer. Questioning helps your child mull over what she sees on TV. It helps her to distinguish between fact and fiction, between entertainment and advertising messages.
Believe the complexities of life. While it seems that you have to offer an answer to every question—especially with very young children—sometimes there are no answers, or at least no simple ones. That’s an vital lesson for kids, too. There are lots of ways to work questioning into your child’s day. The first step is to make it a daily movement, maybe at the start of your evening meals or as part of bedtime. Jot a question on a piece of paper, along with a love note, to tuck into his lunchbox. That way, the question game becomes a nice way of staying connected through the day. The object is to try to get a handle on how your child views his world, and help clear up confusion he may have on difficult or painful issues.

Make Yourself like brand.

If you've got some career ambition, it's more than worth it to develop your own personal brand and be the definition of your career for other people. And guess what? It's easier than you think with these tips:

Make a mental picture. Clamp your eyes shut and picture who you are and what qualities you want people to call to mind when your name comes up (or when a job presents itself that would fit you like a glove). Those qualities should be the cornerstones of your brand.

Become a tangible product.

For those branding giants -- our aforementioned Kleenex, Band-Aid, and Starbucks -- the image is reinforced with logos, trademarks, commercials, catch-phrases, and customer service. Each time a customer interacts with a given product, the corporation reinforces the brand until, when you need a tissue, you think Kleenex. You, however, are not a tissue. You are a living, breathing brand, with ample opportunities to reinforce this on a daily basis. If your personal brand involves innovation, be innovative in all things: the food you eat for lunch, the gadgets you rely on, the style that swirls around you. Keep in mind that this can work against you, too: If you always do shoddy work, your desk is a mess, or your wardrobe is atrocious, those are the qualities that people will associate with you. Yikes.

Increase Your Confidence

Stay Positive at Work

Become indispensable.

When downsizing poses a threat to your department, passivity can be killer while action is critical. Take this as your opportunity to shine, suggests Adele Sheele, career coach and author of Skills for Success. “In bad times, instead of wallowing, start contributing and see what’s needed,” says Sheele. Organizing task forces, taking on responsibility, and volunteering to head projects shows enthusiasm to your boss (not to mention inspires coworkers to match your gung-ho attitude). A tip from Cathie Black, president of Hearst Magazines: Become more valuable by expanding your skill set to include things that aren’t necessarily part of your job description. Learn new computer programs, or find out what tasks your superiors are responsible for that are unfamiliar to you.

Increase Your Confidence When It Matters Most

Everyone has fat days, bad-hair days, and days when they don't want to set foot outside the house. But there are times when you just have to suck it up and rally. It's not like you can tell a potential employer that you'd rather do the interview when you're less bloated...or explain to your new guy's parents that you're having an "off" night. "There are ways to shake off insecurities quickly, so you can approach anxiety-inducing situations with confidence and poise," says Sam Horn, author of What's Holding You Back. These tricks will chase away self-doubt.
WHEN YOU'RE FLYING SOLO AT A PARTY...

If you're forced to attend a soiree alone, the fear is that you'll look like a loser with nobody to talk to. But that's so not going to happen if you follow these suggestions.Get your makeup done beforehand. Even if you're just hitting up a house party, a little professional primping can make you feel more special and pulled together. And you don't have to break the bank — most department-store cosmetic counters offer free makeup applications.Use the buddy system. While you might not be able to bring a pal to someone else's bash, anything goes at your own place. Invite a good friend or two over for a drink before you head out. Your little preparty will not only relax you for the event ahead, but it'll also remind you that you're a fun, likable person.Show up armed with compliments. It's totally a mind game, but feeding someone praise not only makes her feel good, but it also gives you an opportunity to strike up a conversation. Approach a girl to rave about her "so cute" bag or amazing necklace. She'll eat it up, then chat you up.Smile. It's almost too easy, but flashing your pearly whites is one of the best confidence tricks out there. A friendly smile accomplishes two things: It boosts your mood and makes you seem more accessible to other people.
WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO TALK TO A HOT GUY...

You don't want to kick yourself in the ass for letting a hottie get away. These tips will help you make a move.Try some role-playing. Before hitting the stage, Beyoncé pretends she's a temptress named Sasha. Create a sex-kittenish alter ego who's not afraid to hit on an attractive man and channel her. You want to be subtle here, so don't conjure up Jessica Rabbit.Ask for an introduction. Have a mutual friend, or the bartender, play mediator and offer to buy him a drink. It's a classic trick because it eases you into conversation and keeps you from losing your nerve.Draw his eye. Men are visual creatures, with eyes trained to follow movement. Pull his focus to seductive spots on your body by casually running a finger along your neck or over your shoulder. The awareness of his eyes on your skin will make you feel doubly desirable.Make him laugh. Displaying a sense of humor about yourself will win a guy over every time, so show him the dorky way your dad dances or tell him about a prank that your coworker once pulled on you.
WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO SLEEP WITH A NEW MAN...

(And by sleep, we mean have sex, just so we're clear.) It's only natural to be a little nervous, but he doesn't have to know that.Get waxed. Opting for a übersexy Brazilian bikini wax can boost your in-bed confidence. Actress Eva Longoria Parker reportedly said that going totally bare down there makes her feel "like Angelina Jolie. It opened the door to a whole new sexual side of me."Spritz on a new scent. When you wear the same perfume day after day, you eventually just stop smelling it. A new fragrance, especially one that's out of character, can make you feel like a different person — a sultrier version of yourself.Turn off the lights. If you're busy stressing that your boobs aren't big enough or your butt isn't perfect, you're not going to have a good time. So if doing it in the dark will help quell your anxiety, just hit the damn switch and get on with it!Play with him. Sex is supposed to be fun. Adopting a playful attitude will alleviate any pressure for things to be movielike and allow you to just be your fabulous self. So challenge him to take your bra off with one hand. It will add a little levity to the situation.
WHEN YOU'RE MEETING HIS PARENTS..

.It's not like you're going to the White House, so just be your adorable self.Cop a "who cares?" 'tude. What's the worst thing that can happen? It's not like you'll have to see them every day. So decide ahead of time that you'll act as nice as you can — what happens from there is out of your hands.Butter them up. Slip something sweet about their son into the conversation. If he gets up to help his mom, try a line like "He's one of the most considerate guys I've ever met." His parents will warm to you, setting up a camaraderie.Sit next to them. Grab the seat beside his mom or dad. It's a nonthreatening position, so they won't be quite as intimidating to you.Take off your shoes. Press your bare feet into the floor and take five deep breaths. This acupressure technique will miraculously relax you.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT A BIG WORK MEETING...

You know you're smart and capable, but job pressures can rattle even cool chicks. In order to be at your very best, you need to calm your nerves and remind yourself just how impressive you are.Take a short walk. Instead of sitting there stressing, head out for a quick walk around the block. It'll boost your energy and reduce tension, putting you into a more positive and focused state of mind.Make small talk. According to at the California State University at Long Beach, light chitchat is a stress reliever, especially for women. Gossip with a coworker for a few minutes. The social interaction will ease the pressure and anxiety, so you can walk into the presentation or interview like it's not such a huge deal.Psych yourself up. Before a big game, athletes will often clap their hands together and rub them back and forth to rev up. This body-language technique gives an energizing, empowering jolt to your brain. So take a page from their playbook and use this trick to get pumped.
THE LOOK OF CONFIDENCEA

self-assured attitude comes from within. But with the right clothes and makeup, you can fake it a little too.White TeethA smile conveys confidence, and you'll be more inclined to flash your bright whites if they're, well, bright white. Or close to it.High HeelsA hot pair of heels doesn't just add inches to your height, it changes your strut, making you feel sexy, feminine, and in charge.Red LipsNot all women can pull off a saturated matte crimson pout. But even glossy ruby-colored lips signal that you're a fearless kind of chick.