Critical thinking skills are a crucial part of a child’s educational development. These skills allow children to observe, analyse, communicate, problem-solve and resolve conflicts.

So, how can you help your child to develop critical thinking skills? I have teamed up with an independent school in New York to share some advice…

Let them play

By giving your child opportunities to play they will be able to test how things work. This exploration is essential when developing critical thinking skills. For example, you could ask your child to build a ramp out of blocks. Get them to design a small ramp structure for a toy to slide down. By building their own ramp your child will not only have to think about the structure, but they will also need to determine which heights and angles will bring their toy safely to the bottom.

Ask them questions

Ask your child lots of open-ended questions to develop their curiosity. Show your child that you are genuinely interested in their opinions by saying things like “I’m really interested to hear what you think”. Give your child plenty of time to come to conclusions on their own and allow them to think independently before helping with answers. If you think what they have said is wrong, encourage them to give it some more thought by saying something like “What other ideas could we try?” – This will help to open their minds to different ideas and solutions.

Mix up their routine

Another way to encourage critical thinking is by carefully taking your child out of their comfort zone. Start by making some small changes to their usual routine. These changes will help to stimulate your child’s curiosity and encourage them to experiment and try new things. For example, you could try a new route to school, try a new recipe for dinner or even move their bedroom furniture around.

Join extra- curricular clubs

Extra-curricular clubs are an ideal way to develop your child’s critical thinking skills and put them into practice with other children of a similar age. In fact, taking part in extra-curricular activities can help your child to develop many personal skills, such as communication, problem solving and teamwork. These skills will all contribute greatly to their future career and they will learn how to plan ahead and manage their time more efficiently.