Tips For Raising Critical Thinkers

The disciplined process of analysing facts, information and making informed decisions supported the analysis is named 'critical thinking.' Skills like decision-making, observation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and interpretation are core to the method of critical thinking.

In today's fast-changing world, children must know practical applications of concepts instead of just remembering information. Thus, to help your kid's growth of becoming a lively learner instead of a passive recipient of data, more emphasis must be laid on their ability to think critically and creatively. Critical thinkers constantly use their power to reason and actively question ideas and assumptions instead of accepting them at face value.

Kids are fast learners and absorb knowledge; hence, it's recommended that one encourage them to think critically from an early age. It'd sound daunting when someone asks "how to boost critical thinkers", but actually, it involves simple exercises and practices between you and your child.

Here are six practical tips for raising critical thinkers:

1. Encourage Asking "How?" And "Why?" rather than "What?"

Knowing just the definition of a subject isn't enough as that information are often superficial and should provide a sense of false security about the knowledge thereon subject. Children should understand the cause and effect behind a specific phenomenon or topic, allowing them to travel beyond the bare facts and believe the issue.

For example, asking the definition of photosynthesis is not enough. The kid must understand why humans need plants to conduct photosynthesis.

2. Intervene only Needed, Not Immediately:

Try counting to 120 before intervening within the activity your kid has difficulty in. This is often necessary because you would like to offer your child the time and space they must understand a drag, consider the possible solutions, then execute the one they think is best. Although it'd be challenging, giving them time will instil the talents for continued problem-solving. You'll provide them with enough information so that they don't get discouraged and provides the task, but not such a lot that it finishes up solving the matter entirely.

3. Communicate Your Thought Process To Your Child:

As a parent, there'll be times once you are needed to intervene just in case your child has difficulties. Children learn best from observing how they think; hence, you ought to communicate your thought process and decision-making process once you navigate the matter. This may help them understand the way to handle future challenges in an efficient manner.

4. Encourage Your Child To Develop Hypothesis:

Forming a hypothesis helps your child understand all the possible outcomes of their decision. This may help develop skills to think one step before the matter, where they will analyse the possible results before making informed decisions for themselves.

5. Ask Follow-Up Questions:

While your child tackles a drag, ask them follow-up questions like "how does one know this?" or by encouraging them with affirmations like "that is interesting, tell me more". It'll increase their confidence, making them feel that their thoughts are valued and heard. When the youngsters solve a drag by themselves, asking them about their learning can go an extended way in reinforcing the concepts.

6. Encourage Them to know How Their Views Might Differ From Others:

Let's assume you're teaching your kid about global climate change. You'll ask them, "if people in country A are experiencing climate change, how will it affect people in country B?" Questions with variables like this may help them understand that drag can have different perspectives from different people. Trying to know others' perspectives to unravel problems is an essential element of creative problem-solving.

Being the top CBSE School in Jodhpur, at Vidhyashram International School, we make sure we help children grow to be critical and creative thinkers. We help them asses their weakness and work on it effectively to get raised as their best version.

Critical thinking flourishes when children have the liberty to form choices, plan their time, and make something from scratch. It doesn't necessarily need a subject as this skill is more about the method of reaching their objective and teaching your children to think for themselves. Adding to it, it's also essential to determine a healthy dialogue between you and, therefore, the learner so that there's room for discussions and that they can approach you for clearing their doubts as they learn. While moulding your child's ability to reflect and act on their thoughts, you also want to confine the mind that learning may be a gradual process that can require patience and a gentle hand when things is a smaller amount than ideal. If you're faced with a roadblock during this process, it's advisable to require an opportunity not just for your child but also for yourself. Do an activity that restores their spirit, also as yours, then slowly revisit the training curve. Directing your child's questions, listening and responding to them will encourage an independent thought process integral to developing their critical thinking skills by the end of the day.

Read this related blog - 6 Impactful Tips To Boost Your Child's Memory