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The article is subjective and expresses the personal opinion of the author.
What is critical thinking?
First of all, critical thinking is the ability to ask questions and doubt. But to doubt is not to “take on faith” and to check even seemingly obvious facts. And all the time to look, "as it really is" and "can it be done differently, better." In a word, get to the bottom of the matter yourself.
Critical thinking is a balanced approach, when conclusions are drawn after a comprehensive examination of the problem and reflection. This is the ability to "not succumb to provocations and emotions," at least until the verification of the facts. Such thinking significantly increases safety, because a person, thanks to him, can understand that they are being pushed into something “not edible” or, for example, lured into a sect.
The term "critical thinking" is now in vogue, and it is often used as a method of exposing "fakes." But it is much wider.
Critical thinking is the basis of knowledge and the cause of all discoveries. And where there is knowledge and discovery, there is curiosity and children. It goes hand in hand with the development of cognitive abilities and scientific knowledge.
The ability to build causal relationships, make logical conclusions, analyze, be able to separate facts from opinions, identify primary sources, and other methods of scientific knowledge - all this underlies critical thinking. “How absurd,” another parent will say right away, “let this be taught at the university already.” And obviously hurry up with the conclusion ...
When to start teaching critical thinking?
I argue that you need to teach children critical thinking almost from birth. One personal example. When my one-year-old son wanted to touch the included heater, then, it would seem, everything is obvious. I say: "Watch out, it's hot - you can get burned." The kid understands everything, but after a couple of minutes he again pulls his little hands towards him. He pulls carefully, glancing at me. He wants to check: is it really hot, or maybe what are the limits of what is allowed? How to respond?
And there are only two options. The first is to crush the baby with authority, that is, to actually intimidate. It’s easy: raise your voice a little: “Ay-yai-yay, you can’t!” We often do this out of good intentions.
As a result, obedience grows, and independence falls. And along with the fall in independence, critical thinking does not develop. The child is accustomed to always follow the instructions of the "elder", no doubt and verification to believe the opinion of "authority".
Parents, kindergarten teachers and teachers are rarely willing to voluntarily question their authority. And it can even work “in plus” - until adolescence, when you are no longer the authority. And he used to believe in “authority”, and changing his thinking and habits is already extremely difficult.
And there is a second option. Experience pushes us toward him. Even if we forbade, and the child obeyed us, we realize that this will not always be the case. Even very young children "for some reason" begin to violate the prohibitions as soon as they find themselves out of sight of their parents. Each parent knows what mischievous children are “without control”, and that behind them you need an eye and an eye. Children are pushed by this natural curiosity and that same critical thinking.
Therefore, the second option of our actions is to check the baby that the battery is really hot and can be burned. Agree, under your supervision - this is the most secure. You can hold your hand together without touching the battery. You can press your fingers to the battery for just one second, only to let the baby feel how hot it is. The child himself must learn to recognize the danger.
A side, but very beneficial effect is that the child will trust you more. Because you did not deceive him: she is really hot. Because they allowed him to touch, and he has no need to do this secretly from you.
For the future, when a developing child will try other dangerous things, it is especially useful to make a habit so that he does something for the first time only with you. This significantly increases the preservation of his health, in particular, insures against accidents. Because it is a (risk) controlled by you.
Let's explore the world on our own
Critical thinking is simply necessary to develop, because the main purpose of education is to make the child completely independent.
And it’s best to learn from real examples. Of course, it’s worth starting not with dangerous situations, but with knowledge of nature and games. But you shouldn’t always suggest the “right answer” and “help” the child play.
“No, the cube will not fit into this hole,” you say, and the baby stops pushing him. However, it is better that he himself, through trial and error, understand what will fit in and where not. And why. And for this he needs to doubt and try. Even if you know exactly how to “do it right”.
Personally, I was confounded, though not with a cube, but with a triangle. In the toy car, the windows were made in the form of various figures - a cube, a triangle, a circle and a heart. The kid quickly learned how to insert them correctly, but from time to time he continued to stubbornly experiment. And yet he pushed a triangle into the window for the cube, turning it at a different angle. What was very pleased.
He doubted my words that “this is impossible”, and proved that there is another way. Now he may begin to doubt my other words, which may create problems for me in education. But in the development of his thinking, the baby took a clear step forward.
Allow to ask the most “ridiculous” questions and answer them
It all starts with questions. And here the children rule: this is their favorite pastime. However, it is precisely the questions that lead to almost all discoveries, including the most brilliant ones. There is someone who doubts everything, like Einstein, and bang - a discovery!
And here I will be categorical: all the questions of children should be answered, and not at all superficial and monosyllabic. After all, they are interested, not only “what is this?”, But also “how does it work”? Why? What for? The deeper you “dig” in your explanations and the easier you explain, the better your child’s brain works. Separately, it is worth teaching the child to ask questions himself and formulate them accurately.
But if you waved away a couple of times, they say once you’re tired or tired, and even more so “if you know a lot, you’ll grow old soon,” then the child may stop asking questions at all. And this is a dead end that severely limits and inhibits the development of thinking in general.
Critical thinking is doubt, and doubt is question. Here is the key to development.
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