Critical thinking skills are going to be an essential skill for children as they navigate their time through school, understanding the subjects they’ll be picking up, and having a better sense of what they need to do to solve problems. Here in this guide from a prep school in Cardiff we take a look at these tips to help with your child’s critical thinking skills.
Role play problem solving scenarios
Have your child go through a series of problems they come across and handle them as well as they can. You may want to intervene, but we recommend allowing your child to think for themselves for a time to understand what they think is the best solution. Start small with toys or games to keep them stimulated and signpost them slowly if they’re reaching a dead end.
Play a range of board games
Board games can really encourage a child to feel focused on something specific. Jigsaws for example give your child the chance to take a step back and have a look at what they need to do. Give them the freedom to work on their next decision and give them the chance to act upon them. They can only learn how to win in a board game if they’re given the opportunity to think independently about their next decision, and work on what mistakes they may have made.
Spark your child’s curiosity
Curiosity is a part of knowing what a child might be interested in and what they may want to avoid in the future. Being curious means that your child can work on their own personal improvements and also explore new hobbies, interests and more in their spare time. Catering to this works on their critical thinking skills in a number of ways, as it gives children the choice to pick up something they want to invest in, instead of what their parents advise them to choose.
