How to help your child think critically

Every day children come across images, information, messages from school, on television, their mates, at home, online, and everywhere. Because children are naturally curious, as they grow between the ages of 2 and 3 years, the need to process all this information and form an understanding arises as they begin to grow. They want to know the meaning of everything around them. As a parent, the need to start answering the question "what is this?" arises. They want to know everything around them, what they see, touch and hear.

Children can develop critical thinking skills in the early stage of their life. This skill differentiates them from their peers and in their academy later in life. Good critical thinking is a habit that should start young in children. Are you tired of answering the "mummy, what is this?" question every time. I know the question can be annoying sometimes, especially when you have to answer this question countless times a day. Worry no more. You are only building their critical thinking ability by answering those questions. So next time you hear the question, "Mummy, what is this" jump up and explain to them in a way they will understand.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking, according to Wikipedia, is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgment. Critical thinking in children is their ability to analyze images, objects, information to form an opinion that helps them understand everything around them.

Critical thinking is an essential skill in their day-to-day activity as they continue to grow. It helps them make decisions, solve problems, set future goals, and develop their lives. In addition, critical thinking allows children to figure out the world around them and how to live and adapt to its system.

How can you help your children develop critical thinking abilities?

Parents, teachers, and everyone around the children must help them develop their critical thinking ability. As much as this ability is inbuilt, parents need to do a few things to activate this ability entirely. Below are a few things to do to help them think critically.

Paint Images in their mind

Children tend to learn better and develop their critical thinking ability with images. So, whenever they inquire about something, describe it with photos. If possible, show them pictures. It will enable them to remember. Each time they come across the same thing, they have a flashback of the image you painted in their mind when you answered their question. Even in the early days of school, teachers teach them with pictures or pictures because that is the best and easiest way for children to learn. So next time your children ask questions, explain to them with images.

Allow them to ask questions.

Children are curious, don't shun them whenever they ask questions. Instead of ignoring or discarding their question, patiently listen to their question because this question results from critical thinking. If a child cannot think, such a child won't ask questions. Allowing your children to ask those questions will develop their thinking ability and boost their peers' confidence whenever a discussion around those questions arises.

Answer all their questions.

Some parents mistake shutting their children up whenever they ask some question. They feel such children are too young for those questions. Quik one, no child is too young for the question they ask you. What you should know as a parent is that for your child to come to ask those questions, it means they have done some critical thinking and want answers to some missing puzzle. It can be dangerous to ignore their question because they might get wrong answers from the outside world. So next time your children ask you questions, rather than answering them immediately, ask them what they know, correct them if they are wrong, and explain more if they are right.

Be a good listener.

It is so unfortunate most parents don't have time to listen to their children" s complaints, gist, and talk with them. When you create time to speak with them, you help them correct some wrong facts, develop new ideas, and test their thinking ability with some questions. With this act, you will also help them develop the habit of listening, which is essential for critical thinking.

Play with them.

Playing with children at a very tender age helps boost their brains and develop their ability to think critically. Playing with your children builds a strong connection between children and their parents, allowing the parents to assess their children. It knows their ability to think by playing games, solving puzzles in their children's games, etc.

Teach them how to solve problems

One of the important ways to teach children how to think critically is to teach them how to solve problems. Ask the critical questions and ask them to proffer answers to those questions. For example, you can ask them to solve puzzles like how to eat food without using your hand. Instead, allow them to think, and if they didn't get the answer, you could tell them to use their spoon or fork. Constant practice will help them build their critical thinking ability.