How to teach children to think critically

One of the most important abilities is being able to think critically. Sadly, most of the schools don’t teach it. The importance of it can be seen in day to day life. How to tell apart false statements from the truth, when both of them seem to be coming from respectable and trustworthy people. How to make a decision that might have an impact on the rest of your life? Teaching concepts of critical thinking from a young age can help your kids thrive in their lives and be happy with their decision making.

Critical thinking is a complex skill that can take many years to develop and requires tremendous experience. In order to build this skill, a child needs to be reading books, be exposed to different points of view, and people coming from different backgrounds. But there is one simple thing that you can do on daily basis that can help improve and build this skill faster. There is one simple question that can improve your child’s ability to think critically.

Think of the following situation. Remember the last time you were curious about why something works in a certain way or why something needs to be done exactly according to those precise rules. Your supervisor in those matters or a person who decided things need to be done that way — after you asking him the question “Why?”, responds something along the lines that is it just the way things are done. Or maybe he tells you that he doesn’t have time to explain to you or maybe he even tells you just because that is how it has always been done. Would you be satisfied or happy with this answer?

To them, your question might seem trivial because his knowledge in that area exceeds yours. Maybe there is no time at the moment for the needed explanation. Maybe you should’ve read about this before. No matter the reason you unsatisfied, probably slightly annoyed.

Now, apply the following situation to your children. Children are curious about absolutely everything. Children are genuinely the ones that always want to know Why. The greatest minds in history have become exactly that because they asked the simple question of Why. The curiosity is something we should nourish and let it freely grow. The insatiable cravings for knowledge. All of it starts with a simple question of Why.

Nourish your child’s desire for knowledge. Answer their question of Why. But just as important is to ask them Why. When you tell them to wear their seat belt and they ask you why — ask them why they think it is necessary to wear a seat belt in the car. If they tell you they don’t know then ask them what would happen if there was suddenly an obstacle in front of the car. If their answer is still don’t know, tell them the car would likely have to brake and what could possibly happen then. Of course, this example with the seat belt is very trivial. But there are many questions your child might ask you. Rather then you serving them an answer on the plate, much better for them is to arrive at the answer by themselves with your help.

As children grow older they may start asking the “Why?” question a lot less and then it is up to you to encourage them. To always be curious and always ask “why?”.

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