The theoretical basis of the research was the conception of human intelligence of Sternberg. The aims of the study were: to determine the level of analytical thinking, creative thinking and practical thinking of seven-year-old children; to determine the relations between the level of analytical, practical and creative thinking and pupil's success in school; to determine the association between the level of different kinds of thinking and their success as students; and to explore the impact of teacher's perception of level of children's thinking on their achievements in school. The research was carried out on a group of 167 seven-year-old children selected at random from urban schools and their teachers. This paper discusses how learning programmes foster and promote the development of different forms of thinking.