Humans, perhaps uniquely among animals, have the ability to think about times beyond the present. A large percentage of our waking hours are spent contemplating and planning for the future. How does this ability to think about the future develop and what are the bene ts of future thinking? First, you will take part in a live experiment, using a computer-based task that examines decision-making about the future. Next, you will hear about the work that we and others have done on planning and future thinking in children. Finally, we will show you your own data and discuss what they reveal.