Throughout childhood and
adolescence, children’s brains are developing in important ways.
One sign of this development is
the ability to think about abstract concepts, such as “truth” and “justice.”
During middle school, children
become better at abstract thinking, but they still need guidance.
Parents can initiate activities
and conversations that involve these skills. Here are some examples that have
worked for others:
• Challenge accepted ideas. Ask,
“Why shouldn’t athletes cheat?” or “Why don’t children go to school on the
weekends?”
Making young people support
their accepted beliefs helps them understand the concepts behind those beliefs.
• Talk with your child about
imaginary situations. Ask: “What if you won the lottery?” or “What if eating
ice cream became illegal?”
• Do science experiments, and
have children guess what will happen. Ask: “If we shine a lamp on this plant,
will it grow faster or slower?”
• Play games that require
thinking ahead. “Battleship,” checkers, and chess are good examples of games
that require some strategy.
• Let your children make
choices. It’s OK if they make minor mistakes, such as spending their allowance
too quickly. Use real-life situations to help your children learn from their
choices.
• Play “Twenty Questions.” Use
categorical questions in general terms. Ask: “Is it a city?” instead of “Is it
Miami?”
All these strategies help
children develop their critical thinking skills.
