How to encourage higher-level thinking in children

My kids are my favourite thing. I love their insatiable curiosity about everything. They are curious about everything, from the tiny details of a sunflower to vast expanses of the ocean.

I would like to believe that all that questioning comes naturally to most people, but it is important to increase higher-level thinking.

While children are naturally curious, nurturing curiosity in our children is a top priority. We want them to learn and grow about things that interest us.

I believe these are some of our best-researched projects that have been very successful.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE HIGHER-LEVEL THINKING IN KIDS

Try new things

While we have always been open to giving our children new experiences, in many ways, it is something that we do intentionally.

A friend told me that she couldn’t afford to take her kids on expensive trips or take them to faraway places. This is not what we are about, so I understand it.

We mean to try new things. This could be experimenting with how the lemonade recipe is made, wading in the creek to find hidden rocks and taking a walk through the woods after the rains. These questions spark curiosity and inspire them to learn more about things they may not have considered.

Ask questions

Have you ever played 20 Question? You know you can learn a lot about someone by playing.

If we visit a local museum, we might ask about an artefact we are interested in. These questions lead to further research, either by asking a guide at the museum or doing some research at home.

My husband and I used to ask questions, but now the kids do it too. They also have discussions about their knowledge and opinions about history.

It is a wonderful learning experience for all of them.

Don’t Make Them Bored.

Parents don’t want their children to be bored. This seems to be one of the most difficult things they can do. In our household, boredom leads to imagination and curiosity.

The truth is that the children know that we are not their entertainment director and that if they get bored, they have to think of activities to keep them entertained.

Many times these activities involve trying out new things or experiments. They’re learning about their bikes and counting the birds that visit the bird feeder. Kids learn much more when they are curious about the world around their homes. They can model curiosity and learn new things together. And most importantly, they will have fun doing it!

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You can continue the conversation with this secret recipe.