Activities to Enable Critical Thinking in your Child

Critical thinking is the ability to make reasoned judgements. It is a way of thinking in which you don't simply accept all arguments and conclusions you are exposed to but rather have an attitude involving questioning such arguments and conclusions. And this can be developed in kids, with just a few activities.

Activities to Enable Critical Thinking in your Child

1. Spin a yarn 

In this activity, you will speak out a line that can begin a story. For example- "There once lived a girl who was very small". Encourage your child to make a story out of the line. If done in groups, each child can keep adding to the story.

2. Sit-Stand-Hands Up 

In this activity, the teacher will ask questions to kids. If the answer, according to them is Yes- Stand up No- Sit Down Depends - Sit and put your hand up This will enable children to coordinate their actions according to their thinking.

3. Fact or Fib

Get 2 sticky notes. Write "Fact" on one and "Fib" on the other. The teacher  will read a statement and count, "1-2-3". Each child will slam their answer on the table. The teacher will compare responses and then clarify/verify the statement.

4. Riddles

Let children solve this riddle: My number has nine digits It is evenly divisible by 100 The value of one of the digits is 700,000 The digit in the millions place is both even and prime The digit in the hundreds place is the temperature at which water freezes The digit in the ten millions place is triple the number in the millions place The digit in the thousands place is the number of fluid ounces in a cup The digit in the hundred millions place is a special number because it is a factor of every number. Some simple activities everyday will let your child go a long way in terms of critical thinking. And when only a few minutes each day can help them develop, then why not?