Cultivating Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is about curiosity, flexibility and keeping an open mind. It is about thinking independently, forming one's own opinions and drawing one's own conclusions.  Teaching young people critical thinking skills is a necessity because it will help them to better analyze, understand and react to various situations they encounter in life.

Teach children to ask questions about what they read on social media or hear from their friends to verify accuracy before reacting or sharing. Encourage them to dig deeper on topics that interest them so they experience the exploration process. Ask open-ended questions and provide time for kids to think about the answer. Make a list naming pros and cons of conflicting ideas.

Click here for ideas on how to develop critical thinking skills in kids. For even more information, here are 10 tips for teaching kids to be critical thinkers.