> Today was the tipping when I was trying to explain some basic mathematics to my daughter, and managed to lost here, making her more confused than before. How

> Today was the tipping when I was trying to explain some basic mathematics to my daughter, and managed to lost here, making her more confused than before. How many questions do you ask during your explanations? I ask because it's very easy to get wrapped up in your own words, ignoring the blooming confusion in the person you're talking with. You might try some experiments around asking questions. For example, when you give analogies about math you think your daughter would understand, ask her to explain it back to you - before you're done. Or - after a few sentences, ask her what she thinks will come next. On the topic of actually explaining things, you might consider doing the "tap test" with your daughter. Pick a song you're certain she'll be able to recognize, just from the rhythm you tap on a tabletop. Then tap it out. And watch in bewilderment as she has no idea what you're tapping. Turn it around and ask her to tap a song she's certain you'll recognize. It's a lot of fun and a very good way to understand just how hard it can be to teach anything. Works great with any friend or family member as well. To be explicit, the outcome of the tap test is surprising because as we tap, we're hearing the rest of the music in our own heads. But the other person can't, of course. That's what happens to a lot of people when they explain things. They hear the parts they're not actually saying, but the other person can't. Understanding this phenomenon is the first step to doing something about it. You can read more about the tap test in the book "Made to Stick," which is about explaining things in general and is a great read.