i've often been surprised while working with kids that i'll be trying to manipulate them into a way of thinking about a problem or task and they ask me why i'm talking in that way or asking those (usually just prompting) questions

i'll usually just tell them why i'm trying to manipulate them into thinking about the problem in the way i want (in kid friendly language) and they're perfectly fine with it. people don't really seem to mind being manipulated like that, they really just hate not understanding what's going on or being lied to.