When it comes to traditional schooling, one area of learning that many parents feel is sorely lacking is critical thinking. But how important are these skills? As you might already know, they’re actually critical for life after school — in the real world. But many parents struggle with knowing how to raise independent thinkers, so here are some important tips. Books that teach critical thinking, like the Tuttle Twins series, are one way to instill these skills in your kids.
The Importance of Critical-Thinking Skills
Let’s start with why critical-thinking skills are important. When kids know how to think critically, they’re better able to make decisions and solve problems. They can analyze not only their options but also the consequences of each option, resulting in more thoughtful decisions.
Kids who are critical thinkers are better able to break down complex problems and approach them from a variety of different angles, then developing more creative solutions that often turn out to be more effective.
Critical-thinking skills enable kids to spot misinformation by assessing the credibility of what they’re reading or watching. They can better understand biases and tell the difference between facts and assumptions.
Critical thinkers also articulate their arguments more clearly and logically while not only understanding but empathizing with the views of others. Further, kids who are critical thinkers tend to be more creative because they question pre-existing ideas and view things from new perspectives.
Books That Teach Critical Thinking
Perhaps the best way to begin teaching your kids critical-thinking skills is with books. Books that teach critical thinking open up whole new worlds for your kids by presenting them with a variety of ideas and viewpoints that they may not have considered before!
The Tuttle Twins books are one series that teaches critical thinking. The Tuttle Twins series goes beyond just teaching critical thinking, wrapping each lesson into an exciting adventure that will keep your kids engaged and help them not only retain what they learned but also put it into use!
The Tuttle Twins books are some of the best parenting books for raising smart kids because of how they present their lessons. One book in the Tuttle Twins series that teaches critical thinking is The Tuttle Twins and the Road to Surfdom.
The twins look into a new road to a beach called Surfdom and see how it disrupts the entire community. They learn about the unintended consequences that often don’t receive enough attention when powerful people are determined to go through with their plans. By seeing how the twins discover the consequences of this new road, readers will start to learn how to identify the consequences of their own actions — before taking them.
How to Raise Independent Thinkers: Fun Activities
In addition to books that teach critical thinking, you can see how to raise independent thinkers through some fun activities. Some activities include puzzles like Sudoku or jigsaw puzzles.
You can also hold debates or discussions about complex topics, demonstrating how to solve complex problems. Role playing can help kids understand problems from different points of view and learn how to empathize with others who hold those views.
There are many options for parents wondering how to raise independent thinkers, from books to activities that will be fun for the whole family! Books that teach critical thinking, like the Tuttle Twins series, are a great launching pad to start with before diving into these above activities because they trigger discussions and debates that will also enable critical-thinking skills. Now that you know everything you need to know about teaching critical thinking, it’s time to get crackin’!
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