How To Foster a Child's Critical Thinking Skills
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When it comes to raising our children, we want them to become thinking members of society. They should be able to solve their problems, arrive at their conclusions, and make their own decisions. It is the key that can genuinely enable your child to grasp some basic principles in life. Through these simple critical thinking skills, your children will be able to decide what they need and what they want early on to prepare them well for their adult years.
Become a critical thinker yourself.
Developing your critical thinking skills is an essential part of encouraging someone else to do the same. When it comes to critical thinking, there are a few questions you'll want to keep in mind:
● Is my information from a good source?
● Does this information I'm reading seem trustworthy?
● Should I believe this, or do I need more evidence?
So how can you evaluate these things? Becoming a better critical thinker means learning how to question your information sources. Before taking what, you read at face value, ask yourself whether the website is credible (e.g., does it have a lot of ads?) and whether its author seems like an authority on the topic. They're probably worth listening to if they've written other articles or books on similar themes; otherwise, their knowledge may be limited. To develop good habits in yourself and others, think critically about what you see online or hear from your friends—it'll be easier than you think!
Stay calm and listen.
It starts with listening. Sometimes it can be challenging to let your child work through a problem but doing so (without interruption) will give them the time they need to think things through on their own. Your frustration can cause them to abandon the attempt if you jump in too soon. It results in no critical thinking skills being practiced that day.
One way to test yourself is by counting slowly to ten after your child has first posed a query or presented an idea—using numbers instead of words so that the silence doesn't feel like pressure. It will allow you extra time to consider whether you're reacting out of anger or genuine concern for your child's welfare. Once you've reached ten, if you still want to say something, do so calmly, using positive language: "I see what you mean about this," "That's an interesting approach," or even "Tell me more about it…."
Parenting naturally wants their children to do well and become productive adults. However, we need to make sure that we don't put too much pressure on them and stifle their ability to think independently and be innovative.
Let children solve their problems.
Sometimes, as parents, it can feel like the right thing to do is jump in and save your children whenever they need help. However, a child's critical thinking skills will not grow if you solve their problems. For example, when your child comes home from school with a broken backpack strap or ripped jeans, you might be tempted to fix these issues immediately. However, letting your child deal with these problems—whether that means searching for their solution or learning to live with the consequences of their tattered wardrobe—is critical to helping them learn how to become independent thinkers and problem solvers.
Depending on the child's age (and whether you have time), asking a few questions can help promote critical thinking: "What do you think could be done? What are some ideas you have? How will this work?" These prompts will help kids brainstorm solutions on their own; they might even come up with a better idea than you had. Asking children what they think is an easy way to encourage them to think independently before helping.
Help children realize that there are multiple solutions to a problem.
To teach your child to think critically:
Help them understand that there are often many ways to solve a problem.
Instead of telling your child how to do something, ask them for their advice.
Talk about the range of strategies they can use and encourage them to pick an idea that suits their interests.
Doing so helps children realize that there are multiple solutions to a problem and don't have to limit themselves.
You can also teach a child how you solved a problem in the past or model how you'd solve the current issue at hand. It shows them what it looks like when someone uses critical thinking skills, which can help them feel more comfortable doing so on their own later. Finally, be sure to ask your child questions as well—you may end up being surprised by the answers they come up with!
Allow children to make mistakes.
The process of learning is full of mistakes, so learning how to fail is a critical skill. Children should be encouraged to try new things and make mistakes in the process. This process will help them learn how to problem-solve, which will help them become more confident in their abilities and develop new skills as they grow up.
Failing allows children to see different perspectives, leading them to consider multiple solutions that they may not have thought of before. For example, you could ask your child what they would do if they were given one more chance at solving a math problem correctly and then explain why this solution might not work for this situation. By allowing your child - and encouraging them - to make mistakes, you are teaching them how important it is to think critically about potential solutions before attempting something new or trying again after having failed previously.
One last thing: don't forget about yourself! Making mistakes isn't just for kids; adults need reminders too! When we make our errors as adults, we must be able to reflect on what happened and learn from those experiences to avoid making similar ones in the future.
Encourage your child to ask questions about their world.
Ask your child about their views on a variety of topics. Don't be afraid to talk about anything and avoid directing the conversation toward specific answers. Encourage your child to think critically. For example, you could ask, "How do you feel about recycling?" or "What would you do if someone pushed you at school?" You can even bring up political issues and current events. By fostering a safe environment devoid of judgment, your kid will feel free to express themselves without fear of being wrong.
Teach by example.
Your child looks up to you as a parent. By demonstrating critical thinking positively to your child, you can set an example of how to engage with their world and influence how they view themselves and others. You can help your child develop critical thinking skills by providing positive role models who use critical thinking. For instance, when watching a movie together, ask questions about the characters and their actions. Please take note of each scene and how it makes you feel about what is happening in the story so that your child can see how you are processing information.
Teach them how decisions are made.
You need critical thinking skills to make decisions. How do we make decisions? Most people make decisions will be by weighing the pros and cons of the decision. You can teach your child that one of the best ways to decide is by writing down both sides' different pros and cons. If you do this, you can see which side has more pros than cons, and then you can determine the best decision for whatever situation you are in.
You could also teach your children about how different people make decisions. For example, some people will decide based on their emotions rather than what might be a logically sound decision. Another good example would be someone who always decides because it is what their family or friends think they should do instead of doing what they want to do. It will show them how different kinds of people could affect their ability to make good decisions if they are not careful with who they surround themselves with or how they act around them.
Give your child a voice.
An excellent way to help your child develop their critical thinking skills is to give them a voice. Allow them to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. It will help them feel important and that you value them. They will also begin to develop confidence in their abilities as they become more comfortable expressing themselves.
Final Thoughts
A few simple activities can train a child's critical thinking skills and help them engage with their environment more thoughtfully. All your child needs are guidance and understanding to help them form these traits. With some dedication from you, your child can succeed. As you work to teach critical thinking skills, you are laying the foundation for future success in school, work, and life overall.
Author bio
Andrea Gibbs is the Content Manager at SpringHive Web Agency, where she helps create content for their clients' blogs and websites. She is currently a blog contributor at Montessori Academy, a blog dedicated to helping parents with the ins and outs of parenting children within the Montessori tradition. When she isn't writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog.
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