Solving problems often involves the ability to think critically, which basically means analysing the information we have in order to come to a sensible conclusion. It’s important for children to develop critical thinking skills, because it will support them throughout their education, but will also help them for independent opinions. With that said, you may be looking for some ways to help your child develop their critical thinking skills. Fortunately, I have teamed up with an independent school in Yorkshire to offer some advice.

Encourage Healthy Discussions at Home

As parents, we often shut down arguments within the home, for fear it will turn into a fully-fledged outburst, but it is important to encourage healthy debating. Children need to learn how to put forward their point of view in a calm and coherent manner. They should also know that it’s perfectly ok to have their own opinions, as long as they don’t try and force them on others.

Allow Your Child to Make Mistakes

No-one wants to see their child fail but allowing them to make mistakes and learn from them is an important part of growing up. They need to experiment with trial and error so that they develop the ability and the knowledge to make more informed decisions next time. As a result, your child will likely become a better problem solver.

Ask Your Child Questions

Try and encourage your youngster to think about thinks on a deeper level by asking “why”. When they ask you for a new toy or video game, ask them why they need it. If they say it’s because all their friends have it, ask them what makes it so popular. Helping your child develop critical thinking skills is all about encouraging them to take their thoughts one step further.

Encourage Your Child to Research

Research will help expand your child’s knowledge and allows them to think about perspectives they may not have otherwise consider. Even if they want to go out for the day, you should encourage them to research different options and ask them to calculate a budget of what you’ll likely be spending on your outing. The idea is for them to look at a situation beyond the surface layer; they can’t just ask to go to the cinema and expect it to magically happen. This will help them think critically about different situations.

Ask Your Child to Reflect

If your child has behaved in a certain way or made a poor decision, ask them to reflect. Why did they behave this way? What led them to this decision? What was the outcome? Doing so will help them determine whether or not this behaviour should be repeated or not in the future. This is great for strengthening critical thinking skills, because it will encourage your child to consider their past experiences and choices when solving problems in the future.