Improve Critical Thinking and Language Skills

Critical Thinking is a difficult process to master.  There are many ways in which critical thinking skills can be improved.  There are many things a parent can do to help a child to develop critical thinking skills.

For example, parents can ask open ended questions.  Open ended questions allow the child to consider more than just a "yes" or "no" type answer.  You can also have your child practice categorizing and/or classifying items such as dividing the laundry into dark and light colors.  To improve the independence of your child, it is also important for him or her to make decisions.  Ask them why they chose to make that decision.  Afterwards, ask them if they feel that they made the right decision.

  One of the most expressive ways to improve critical thinking is through playing educational games.  This website will take you to a series of games you can play that are designed to improve your skills in critical thinking.  It is part of the Mensa website.  Mensa is an international organization for gifted and talented individuals.

www.mensaforkids.org/play_template.cfm

 We use many of these techniques in the classroom.  For example, I divide the children into small groups to have them problem solve.  Then, the group reports their solution to the problem back to the rest of the class. The following website has a series of educational videos for parents and students to increase their knowledge of critical thinking and to practice it.  These videos are also available on youtube in full- screen format if you go you youtube.com and search "criticalthinkingorg".

www.criticalthinking.org/pages/elementary-educators-k-3/802/