AD | Collaborative post
Every parent wants to make sure their child is as prepared for the real world as possible. A big part of that is encouraging them to develop their critical thinking skills. That’s why we’ve partnered with a Private School in Surrey to bring some pointers on how to develop your child’s mind when it comes to problem solving.
Let Them Think
There will be a temptation to hop in and solve any problem your child is struggling with. But resist the urge as best you can and let your child think about the problem by themselves for a few moments. Their critical thinking can be guided so far, but they have to practice solving those problems for themselves if they are ever going to learn for themselves.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Instead of giving straight answers to your kids questions, respond with another question to get your child thinking for themselves about the topic in hand. Responding with ‘well, why do you think that is’ or ‘does that bother you?’ can encourage your child to think about what they really think about something and why that is. Showing you are interested in what they think will compel them to have more independent thought.
Don’t Shut Down Arguments
If there is ever an argument at home, don’t always be quick to shut it down. Be patient and measured in your response, and try and get to the heart of why the argument has been sparked in the first palace. This will support your child’s means of thinking about their feelings, as well as inspiring empathy from them as you aim to encourage them to see the argument from someone else’s perspective.
Ask For Their Opinions
Similarly to asking questions, asking your children what they think about something will naturally encourage them to have a deeper think about certain situations. This will likewise help improve their sense of empathy, particularly if you focus your questions around how they feel about characters in stories or films that they’re watching. Making them aware that their opinion matters will make them feel more confident about thinking for themselves.
Encourage Mistakes
Learning from failure is a very important lesson to learn, particularly when it comes to problem solving. Sometimes, the path your child takes in certain things won’t work out exactly the way they want them to. Always praise their effort, and tell them to think about what they learnt from something going wrong. That way, they can move on from their mistakes and take important lessons forward to improve in the future.