Living Museum of Learning
Henry and the Metal Puzzle
Many years ago, I visited my Tsinghua classmate Michael and met his son, Henry, for the first time. I brought along a small metal disentanglement puzzle that had frustrated many adults—including a computer scientist I greatly admired, who still hadn't solved it after an entire year.
Henry quietly examined the puzzle and solved it within minutes.
It was immediately clear that this wasn't luck. He had remarkable spatial intuition and the patience to explore instead of forcing an answer. I later began tutoring him in math and coding, hoping to help that curiosity grow.
Some children reveal extraordinary potential in unexpected moments. Our job isn't to rush them through more formulas, but to give them time to think deeply, ask questions, and make discoveries of their own.
