Parenting is another name for responsibilities. There’s so much that you are supposed to ensure as a parent. There are countless errands to take care of. Right from the food and clothing for children to their education and lifestyle, parents always carry the responsibility on their shoulders to ensure that they do not remain lacking on any front.
However, we at Excelsior American School, ranked among the top schools in Gurgaon, firmly believe that if there is one thing, which is just as important for you as providing academic proficiency to your kids, it has to do with exposing children to the necessary life skills. After all, it is these skills that help shape children into well-groomed individuals and come to their aid across different walks of life.
One of these life skills, which is considered extremely important for 21st-century children, is critical thinking. But what exactly is critical thinking all about, and why is it so important for modern world children? Let’s figure it out in this blog post below.
What is critical thinking?
In its most basic form, critical thinking is a skill that enables a person to form judgments upon taking into consideration all the necessary facts and figures. Precisely, this is a form of emotional intelligence.
Nurturing critical thinking abilities in children is important because it helps boost their cognitive development and equips them with essential tools for lifelong learning. When children develop critical thinking skills, they become adept at identifying biases, detecting misinformation, and approaching challenges with a logical and systematic mindset.
The best part about this skill is that it can be developed with practice, which is why it makes sense for parents to divert necessary attention and time towards introducing this skill to their children early on.
Here’s how parents can help develop children’s critical thinking abilities:
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Give a free hand:
If you want your children to think independently, analyze facts around them, and finally come to evidence-backed and well-thought conclusions, it is necessary that you bestow them with the necessary level of independence.
As a famous saying states, “Unless you fall in the water, you do not learn to swim.” Something similar applies in this case as well. Only when children find themselves amid challenging situations, do they feel the need to think critically.
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Highlight the importance of critical thinking:
We at Excelsior American School firmly believe that children should be made to understand how important it is for them to make effective decisions in life. Also, they need to realize that come what may, problems will continue to form a part of life. However, if they wish to get over their problems, it is important that they put their critical thinking skills to use. Their critical thinking abilities will help them overcome all of their problems by wearing their problem-solving boots on.
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Let them know that it is okay to fall:
We have seen that one of the leading reasons why children remain averse to critical thinking abilities is because they are protected beyond measure. After all, the last thing any parent wants is for their children to fall and experience failure or hurt. Isn’t it?
However, an important observation parents miss here is that unless children fall, unless they encounter problems, they will never be in a position to stand up again, apply their mind, and find a way out. We understand it may be difficult for you as a parent to see your child fail, but understand, for their true growth and success, it is important that you make peace with the idea of allowing your children to fall and falter, especially for the greater good that is likely to follow.
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Create purposeful situations:
We at Excelsior American School, one of the top schools in Gurgaon, firmly believe that even though it is necessary to sharpen critical thinking abilities among children, to kiss success in this regard, it is necessary to look beyond superficial, bookish, and verbal learning. One of the best ways of getting children to understand the realm of critical thinking is by putting them in situations wherein they are forced to apply their critical thinking skills.
For instance, you may have introduced various dimensions of critical thinking to your children. What you need to do next is ascertain whether children have understood all that you have attempted to teach them. To bring this into practice, you can very well create situations wherein you can test your child and their abilities.
Say you are visiting a store to buy a luxury item. You need to choose from two distinct options. Here, you can ask your child to choose one item for you and assess the thinking behind the decision. You will then know if your child has indeed grasped what you have been trying to team him/her or not.
Summing Up:
As parents, you would love to become a strong pillar for your children and cover up for them wherever possible. And trust us, we will never pull you down for doing so. However, at the same time, we would like to remind you that it may not always be possible for you to be there for your children, help them make decisions, or find solutions to their problems. Hence, an ideal way out is to invest yourself in helping your kids develop critical thinking abilities so that they gradually grow into excellent decision-makers and problem solvers.
