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How to Teach Your Child to Be a Critical Thinker

Blue Planet Studio / iStockphoto

What Is Critical Thinking?

Importance of Critical Thinking

Benefits of Critical Thinking Skills

Teach Kids to Be Critical Thinkers

Every day kids are bombarded with messages, information, and images. Whether they are at school, online, or talking to their friends, they need to know how to evaluate what they are hearing and seeing in order to form their own opinions and beliefs. Critical thinking skills are the foundation of education as well as an important life skill. Without the ability to think critically, kids will struggle academically, especially as they get older.

In fact, no matter what your child plans to do professionally someday, they will need to know how to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions. As a parent, it's important that you ensure that your kids can think for themselves and have developed a healthy critical mindset before they leave the nest.

Doing so will help them succeed both academically and professionally as well as benefit their future relationships. Here is what you need to know about critical thinking, including how to teach your kids to be critical thinkers.

Critical thinking skills are the ability to imagine, analyze, and evaluate information in order to determine its integrity and validity, such as what is factual and what isn't. These skills help people form opinions and ideas as well as help them know who is being a good friend and who isn't.

"Critical thinking also can involve taking a complex problem and developing clear solutions," says Amy Morin, LCSW, a psychotherapist and author of the best-selling books "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do" and "13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do."

In fact, critical thinking is an essential part of problem-solving, decision-making, and goal-setting . It also is the basis of education, especially when combined with reading comprehension . These two skills together allow kids to master information.

Why Critical Thinking Skills Are Important

According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which evaluated 15-year-old children in 44 different countries, more than one in six students in the United States are unable to solve critical thinking problems. What's more, research indicates that kids who lack critical thinking skills face a higher risk of behavioral problems.

If kids are not being critical thinkers, then they are not thinking carefully, says Amanda Pickerill, Ph.D. Pickerill is licensed with the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Board of Psychology and is in practice at the Ohio State School for the Blind in Columbus, Ohio.

"Not thinking carefully [and critically] can lead to information being misconstrued; [and] misconstrued information can lead to problems in school, work, and relationships," she says.

Critical thinking also allows kids to gain a deeper understanding of the world including how they see themselves in that world. Additionally, kids who learn to think critically tend to be observant and open-minded.

Amy Morin, LCSW

Critical thinking skills can help someone better understand themselves, other people, and the world around them. [They] can assist in everyday problem-solving, creativity, and productivity.

There are many ways critical thinking skills can benefit your child, Dr. Pickerill says. From being able to solve complex problems in school and determining how they feel about particular issues to building relationships and dealing with peer pressure, critical thinking skills equip your child to deal with life's challenges and obstacles.

"Critical thinking skills [are beneficial] in solving a math problem, in comparing and contrasting [things], and when forming an argument," Dr. Pickerill says. "As a psychologist, I find critical thinking skills also to be helpful in self-reflection. When an individual is struggling to reach a personal goal or to maintain a satisfactory relationship it is very helpful to apply critical thinking."

Critical thinking also fosters independence, enhances creativity, and encourages curiosity. Kids who are taught to use critical thinking skills ask a lot of questions and never just take things at face value—they want to know the "why" behind things.

"Good critical thinking skills also can lead to better relationships, reduced distress, and improved life satisfaction," says Morin. "Someone who can solve everyday problems is likely to feel more confident in their ability to handle whatever challenges life throws their way."

How to Teach Kids to Be Critical Thinkers

Teaching kids to think critically is an important part of parenting. In fact, when we teach kids to be critical thinkers, we are also teaching them to be independent . They learn to form their own opinions and come to their own conclusions without a lot of outside influence. Here are some ways that you can teach your kids to become critical thinkers.

Be a Good Role Model

Sometimes the best way to teach your kids an important life skill is to model it in your own life. After all, kids tend to copy the behaviors they see in their parents. Be sure you are modeling critical thinking in your own life by researching things that sound untrue and challenging statements that seem unethical or unfair.

"Parents, being the critical thinkers that they are, can begin modeling critical thinking from day one by verbalizing their thinking skills," Dr. Pickerill says. "It’s great for children to hear how parents critically think things through. This modeling of critical thinking allows children to observe their parents' thought processes and that modeling lends itself to the child imitating what [they have] observed."

Play With Them

Children are constantly learning by trial and error and play is a great trial and error activity, says Dr, Pickerill. In fact, regularly playing with your child at a very young age is setting the foundation for critical thinking and the depth of their critical thinking skills will advance as they develop, she says.

"You will find your child’s thinking will be more on a concrete level in the earlier years and as they advance in age it will become more abstract," Dr. Pickerill says. "Peer play is also helpful in developing critical thinking skills but parents need to be available to assist when conflicts arise or when bantering takes a turn for the worse."

As your kids get older, you can play board games together or simply spend time talking about something of interest to them. The key is that you are spending quality time together that allows you the opportunity to discuss things on a deeper level and to examine issues critically.

Teach Them to Solve Problems

Morin says one way to teach kids to think critically is to teach them how to solve problems. For instance, ask them to brainstorm at least five different ways to solve a particular problem, she says.

"You might challenge them to move an object from one side of the room to the other without using their hands," she says. "At first, they might think it’s impossible. But with a little support from you, they might see there are dozens of solutions (like using their feet or putting on gloves). Help them brainstorm a variety of solutions to the same problem and then pick one to see if it works."

Over time, you can help your kids see that there are many ways to view and solve the same problem, Morin says.

Encourage Them to Ask Questions

As exhausting as it can be at times to answer a constant barrage of questions, it's important that you encourage your child to question things. Asking questions is the basis of critical thinking and the time you invest in answering your child's questions—or finding the answers together— will pay off in the end.

Your child will learn not only learn how to articulate themselves, but they also will get better and better at identifying untrue or misleading information or statements from others. You also can model this type of questioning behavior by allowing your child to see you question things as well.

Practice Making Choices

Like everything in life, your child will often learn through trial and error. And, part of learning to be a critical thinker involves making decisions. One way that you can get your child thinking about and making choices is to give them a say in how they want to spend their time.

Allow them to say no thank-you to playdates or party invitations if they want. You also can give them an allowance and allow them to make some choices about what to do with the money. Either of these scenarios requires your child to think critically about their choices and the potential consequences before they make a decision.

As they get older, talk to them about how to deal with issues like bullying and peer pressure . And coach them on how to make healthy choices regarding social media use . All of these situations require critical thinking on your child's part.

Encourage Open-Mindedness

Although teaching open-mindedness can be a challenging concept to teach at times, it is an important one. Part of becoming a critical thinker is the ability to be objective and evaluate ideas without bias.

Teach your kids that in order to look at things with an open mind, they need leave their own judgments and assumptions aside. Some concepts you should be talking about that encourage open-mindedness include diversity , inclusiveness , and fairness.

A Word From Verywell

Developing a critical mindset is one of the most important life skills you can impart to your kids. In fact, in today's information-saturated world, they need these skills in order to thrive and survive. These skills will help them make better decisions, form healthy relationships, and determine what they value and believe.

Plus, when you teach your kids to critically examine the world around them, you are giving them an advantage that will serve them for years to come—one that will benefit them academically, professionally, and relationally. In the end, they will not only be able to think for themselves, but they also will become more capable adults someday.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA): Results from PISA 2012 problem-solving .

Sun RC, Hui EK. Cognitive competence as a positive youth development construct: a conceptual review . ScientificWorldJournal . 2012;2012:210953. doi:10.1100/2012/210953

Ghazivakili Z, Norouzi Nia R, Panahi F, Karimi M, Gholsorkhi H, Ahmadi Z. The role of critical thinking skills and learning styles of university students in their academic performance . J Adv Med Educ Prof . 2014;2(3):95-102. PMID:25512928

Schmaltz RM, Jansen E, Wenckowski N. Redefining critical thinking: teaching students to think like scientists . Front Psychol . 2017;8:459. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00459

By Sherri Gordon Sherri Gordon, CLC is a published author, certified professional life coach, and bullying prevention expert.

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23 Activities to Develop Critical Thinking Skills in Children

Are you looking for ways to help your child become a better problem solver and decision maker?

Do you want to prepare them for success in the 21st century, where critical thinking skills are highly valued?

Look no further, because in this post we will share 23 engaging activities that can help your child develop critical thinking skills. From puzzles and games to real-life scenarios and creative challenges, these activities will not only enhance your child’s thinking abilities but also keep them entertained and curious. As a parent, it is important to give your child the tools they need to succeed, and critical thinking skills are a vital part of that toolkit.

So, let’s dive in and discover some fun and effective ways to help your child develop critical thinking skills!

Table of Contents

What is critical thinking skills?

Critical thinking is a cognitive process that involves analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information to make informed decisions and solve problems effectively. It involves the ability to question assumptions, examine evidence, and consider multiple perspectives to arrive at logical and evidence-based conclusions.

For example, when playing a game of chess, a player must analyze the board, anticipate their opponent’s moves, and make strategic decisions based on the available information. Similarly, when conducting research, an individual must evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources and synthesize information to form a coherent argument.

Importance of developing critical thinking skills in children

Developing critical thinking skills in children is crucial for their overall cognitive and social-emotional development. Research has shown that children who possess strong critical thinking skills are better equipped to make sound decisions, solve complex problems, and communicate effectively with others.

One study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles found that students who received training in critical thinking showed significant improvements in their reading and writing abilities. These students also demonstrated higher levels of creativity and were better able to understand and analyze complex issues.

In addition, developing critical thinking skills can help children become more independent and confident in their decision-making abilities. They learn to evaluate information and evidence, identify biases, and consider different perspectives before making a decision. This can lead to a greater sense of self-awareness and a better understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses.

Furthermore, critical thinking skills are essential in today’s rapidly changing world. As technology continues to advance and the job market evolves, individuals who possess strong critical thinking skills are more likely to succeed. They are better equipped to adapt to new challenges and to identify new opportunities.

Overall, the development of critical thinking skills is essential for children’s long-term success and well-being. By providing them with opportunities to practice critical thinking skills through various activities and experiences, parents and educators can help children become effective problem solvers, communicators, and decision-makers.

Recommended reading: How To Teach Your Child To Think Out Of The Box

Recommended reading: 9 Fun Activities to Build Listening Skills in Children

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Raising Children 101 (@raising_children_101)

Activities to develop critical thinking skills in children

Critical thinking skills can be developed through various activities that require individuals to analyze and evaluate information, develop hypotheses, and test their ideas using evidence.

Read Books Together: Reading books with children helps to develop their critical thinking skills. Encourage them to ask questions about the story, analyze the characters’ actions, and make predictions about the outcome.
Board Games: Board games are a fun way to develop critical thinking skills in children. Games such as chess, checkers, and monopoly require children to think strategically and make decisions based on the outcome of their moves. Playing board games also encourages children to think creatively and come up with unique solutions to problems.
Encourage Questions: Encourage children to ask questions about the world around them. This can help them to develop their analytical skills and learn how to evaluate information.
Play “What If” Games: “What If” games encourage children to think creatively and critically. For example, ask them what they would do if they were stranded on a deserted island or if they could travel through time.
Brainstorm Solutions: Encourage children to brainstorm solutions to problems they encounter. This can help them develop their problem-solving skills and learn how to think critically.
Mind Mapping: Mind mapping is a great activity to improve critical thinking skills in children. It helps children to organize their ideas and think creatively. Give your child a topic and ask them to create a mind map by writing down all their thoughts and ideas related to the topic. This activity can help your child to improve their brainstorming skills and connect different ideas.
Play Sudoku: Sudoku is a logic-based game that requires critical thinking skills. It requires children to think logically and use deductive reasoning to solve a problem. Sudoku puzzles can be found in many newspapers and online.
Conduct Research: Encourage children to conduct research on a topic that interests them. This can help them develop their analytical skills and learn how to evaluate information.
Watch Documentaries: Documentaries are a great way to develop critical thinking skills in children. Encourage them to ask questions about the information presented and analyze the content.
Play “What’s Missing”: “What’s Missing” is a memory game that requires children to think critically and remember information. For example, lay out several objects and ask them to identify which one is missing.
Play “I Spy”: “I Spy” is a game that requires children to think critically and observe their surroundings. It can help develop their analytical and problem-solving skills.
Play Charades: Charades is a game that requires children to think creatively and critically. It helps develop their problem-solving and analytical skills.
Play “20 Questions”: “20 Questions” is a game that requires children to ask questions and think critically. It can help them develop their analytical and problem-solving skills.
Play “Would You Rather”: “Would You Rather” is a game that encourages children to think critically and make informed decisions. It helps them develop their problem-solving skills.
Play “Spot the Differences”: “Spot the Differences” is a game that requires children to think critically and observe their surroundings. It helps develop their analytical skills.
Play “Who Am I”: “Who Am I” is a game that requires children to think critically and ask questions. It helps develop their analytical and problem-solving skills.
Write Stories: Encourage children to write stories that require critical thinking skills. For example, they could be asked to create a story that involves problem-solving, decision-making, or predicting an outcome. This activity encourages children to think creatively and come up with unique solutions to problems, helping them develop their critical thinking skills.
Science Experiments: Science experiments are a fun way to develop critical thinking skills in children by encouraging them to ask questions, analyze data, and draw conclusions.. Encourage children to think about the scientific method and predict what will happen during an experiment. This encourages children to think about cause and effect and develops their critical thinking skills.
Mystery Box: A mystery box is a great way to develop critical thinking skills in children. Place a number of items in a box and ask children to guess what the items are based on their shape, texture, and weight. This activity encourages children to think creatively and use deductive reasoning to solve a problem.
Coding: Coding is a great way to develop critical thinking skills in children. It requires children to think logically and use deductive reasoning to solve problems. There are many online resources available that teach children how to code.
Debate: Debating is a great way to develop critical thinking skills in children. It requires children to think critically and come up with logical arguments to support their position. Debating also helps children develop their communication skills and learn how to express their thoughts and opinions effectively.
Brain Teasers: Brain teasers are a fun way to develop critical thinking skills in children. They require children to think creatively and use deductive reasoning to solve problems. Brain teasers can be found in many puzzle books and online.
Puzzles: Puzzles are an excellent way to enhance critical thinking skills in children. Give your child puzzles that require them to use their logical reasoning, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills. Puzzles can be in the form of jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, or any other puzzle that requires critical thinking.

By incorporating these activities into your child’s daily routine, you can help them to develop critical thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. These activities can be a fun and engaging way for children to learn and develop their cognitive skills.

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How to Develop Critical Thinking Skills in Your Kids [in a fun way that won’t feel like learning!]

🤔 Critical thinking. Problem solving. Logical and lateral thinking. We hear these terms all the time, but what do they actually mean and why do they matter so much?

In this ultimate guide to developing critical thinking skills in kids I will answer this for you AND leave you with some super practical tools and tips to developing these key skills in the comfort of your own home.

Many of the examples I give you will draw from the “ KidCoachApp ” - a simple but innovative app I have developed to help parents build talking and thinking skills in children at home. It’s a really quick, fun and effective method to build critical thinking, taking just five minutes a day and with no preparation or materials required whatsoever!

Let’s get stuck in.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is an ancient concept, dating back to the time of Socrates and Plato. We don’t seem to have one single definition of it, so let me give you a few to paint a decent picture.

Wikipedia defines critical thinking as “the analysis of facts to form a judgment” . They also say that requires “self-directed and self-corrective thinking” and that it develops “effective communication and problem-solving abilities.”

Criticathinking.org says it is “that mode of thinking - about any subject, content, or problem - in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skilfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them.”

Global Education company Pearson defines critical thinking as “the purposeful and goal-directed thinking used to define and solve problems, make decisions, and form judgments related to a particular situation or set of circumstances. It involves cognitive, metacognitive and dispositional components which may manifest (or be applied) differently in specific contexts.”

Pretty brainy stuff. 🧠 But don’t worry. This is not meant to be a scientific article on the topic, you will be glad to know!

I want to offer my own very simple definition of critical thinking, specifically for kids.

“Critical thinking for kids is getting them to think, really think, about what they are saying. It is NOT about remembering stuff or being right, but it IS about thinking ‘all the way around’ a problem.”

Sometimes it also helps to explain what something is NOT.

Here are three examples:

❌ If your child did the multiplication 6 x 9 to get 54 that would NOT be critical thinking. ✔️But if they then explained to you all the other ways they could get the number 54, then it could be.

❌If your child memorised the lyrics to their favourite song that would NOT be critical thinking. ✔️But if they compared and contrasted it to lyrics of other songs by the same artist, then it could be.

❌Or if your child watched a clever movie with lots of twists and turns that would NOT be critical thinking. ✔️But if they tried predicting what happens next and based on whether they were right or wrong, refined their predictions for the next scene, that could be.

Is this helping?

The terms problem solving or logical and lateral thinking get used quite a lot too. It basically all means the same thing.

Finally, you might have also heard the term “metacognition” which means “thinking about thinking.” This is a good one to bear in mind also as it makes us ask ourselves things like: “Why do I think this?”, “How could I be wrong?”, “What would other people think?” Metacognition is like when someone is speaking out loud your thoughts!

So, having understood what critical thinking is (or logical or lateral thinking is), let’s look at why it is just so important to develop in our kids.

Why is critical thinking important?

Simply put, critical thinking is a key way of ⭐ differentiating ⭐ our kids and preparing them for their future.

Those that can think critically and for themselves will stand out from those can’t. When our kids emerge into the rapidly-changing world of work, those that have good critical thinking skills will be able to cope the best.

1. The world is changing fast.

Did you know that 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 have not even been invented yet? That is according to a study done by the Institute for the Future , in 2017. They cite the increasing amount of technology (think artificial intelligence and machine learning) as carving out thousands of new jobs that we can’t even comprehend today.

Think about your own kids for a moment. What will they do for work?

Maybe one will be a genetic chef 🍲 – coming up with new recipes, analytically put together to be specifically optimised for people based on their genetic profiles?

Maybe another child will be a space traffic controller 🚀 – managing the algorithms computing the many orbital trajectories of shuttles for maximum safety and efficiency?

Or perhaps one will be a virtual reality engineer 👷 – building the new “Zoom” meeting places for employees to work effectively from home?

None of these jobs exist today, but all are completely plausible in just 10 years time.

The chef needs to understand the human genome and think carefully about what goes together, the space traffic controller needs to solve multi-dimensional problems in real time, the virtual reality engineer needs to invent cutting edge new technologies. All of these require massive brain power and ability to think critically in new situations.

Memorising facts just won’t do anymore! ⚠️

And don’t forget – the world will continue to change rapidly, so your kids will constantly have to skill and re-skill in their 20s, 30s, 40s and so on as they launch multiple careers. Maybe they start off in nutrition, then go to transportation, then communication…who knows?

Critical thinking is a transferable skill that your kids can take from one job to another, and will set them up well for life, no matter what decade they are working in.

2. We need better filters

There is a lot of information out there on Google, but the problem is that there is also a lot of disinformation. Knowledge is no longer an issue, but the application of that knowledge is.

I don’t just mean fake news, but also biased sources with agendas.

Take global warming as an example. 🌍

Ask your child to Google “is climate change bad?” See how they interpret what they see. Can they spot the sources and identify biases, for instance climate change activists vs oil companies vs paying advertisers? What other searches could they do to advance their thinking?

Here is a free conversation card you could you use for this exercise, which comes from the KidCoachApp and is a good example of a quick critical exercise you can do with your kids.

(By the way, if you were critically thinking about this article, you might discount what I am saying because I am trying to promote the KidCoachApp . You could, but I hope you don’t, as I really happen to believe in this stuff 😊)

3. Schools can't do enough

Unfortunately most schooling systems are not able to place enough emphasis on critical thinking and related skills. Even if they recognise its importance and want to spend more time on it, their hands are tied and they can’t allocate the necessary timetable space or budget for materials. There is normally just too much pressure to get those high grades in math and English etc.

As the Sutton Trust report of 2017 said: “97% of teachers agree that skills [like critical thinking] are as or more important than academic qualifications” and yet the Princes Trust report in the very same year found that “91% of teachers think schools should be doing more to help students develop [these skills].”

There ARE increasing attempts at embedding critical thinking into every traditional subject taught, for instance the examples I gave above about different ways to make the number 54 (math) or comparing lyrics of songs (English), but many feel this is not happening fast enough.

So what can we as parents do to accelerate this?

What parents need to do at home

The single biggest thing we can do as parents to develop critical thinking skills is to have the right conversations on a daily basis. If we are always asking the right questions, and encouraging our kids to as well, then we are instilling in them fantastic critical thinking skills.

Let’s see how this could pan out over the course of a typical week.

It's Monday and you are helping your child with their homework. Today they are learning all about space, our solar system and the eight planets. To complete the homework all they need to do is draw a diagram of the solar system and label it. But you want to do more and you spot an opportunity to ask some good questions.

💡 While they are working you also ask them how we know there are only eight planets? (it was only a few years ago we included Pluto to be the ninth). You ask how we can be sure they all orbit the Sun? (a few hundred years ago people believed the Earth was at the centre). You also ask how likely there are more Earth-like planets with life out there (perhaps using this conversation card from the KidCoachApp)?

Do you see how by asking just a few follow-on questions we can easily push their thinking?

It's Wednesday and you are watching the news together. There is a story about some recent lottery winners who have splashed the cash and ended up bankrupt after just one year. Oh dear! You could talk about how silly they are, but you see it as a coaching moment to develop critical thinking skills instead.

💡 So you start to talk about money, and what it can do. You ask them to imagine what it must be like to win the lottery. How would they feel? Can they ever really know until it happens? You ask them to think carefully about how they would spend the money (using this conversation card from the KidCoachApp)?

This approach can work for nearly any news story you happen to watch on the TV - try it out next time!

It's Friday and you have popped to the shops with your child. As an end-of-week treat you bought them a chocolate bar. You are just about to walk home when it starts pouring with rain. You decide to wait it out in the shops. Normally you would check your phone for a while but today you are feeling talkative and you are getting the hang of this “KidCoach” thing.

💡 You start talking about rain. What is it? Why is it important? What would we do without it? When is it helpful? When is it a problem? Then you see the chocolate in your child’s hand, and see how it is still raining, which inspires you to ask something fun and silly like this from the KidCoachApp (which also happens to develop excellent critical thinking skills)!

Kids love silly questions like this -they don't even realise that you are actually building their critical thinking skills, in this case by getting them to think through the pros and cons!

How realistic is it to do something like the above?

I know life as parents is super busy but this approach only takes five minutes a day.

Who doesn’t have five minutes to talk to their child each day? 🧒

Probably the hardest part is having the energy and inspiration to come up with a quick, fun question that gets kids thinking in new ways. That’s where the KidCoachApp massively helps.

We have spent hours curating and testing out the best critical thinking questions for kids! We have also written multiple prompts for each question, which parents say is very handy. These follow best practice methodologies used by many schools and education experts (see for instance the Philosophy For Children approach).

I promise that if you get into the habit of using the KidCoachApp to ask these sorts of questions, you will quickly find yourself coming up with all sorts of amazing questions on the fly based on what your kids are doing. Then you might not even need the app anymore!

THE KEY IS TO DEVELOP THE HABIT.

If we do 5 minutes of sit-ups each morning then we will quickly develop a strong core. 😅

Similarly if we exercise our children’s critical thinking muscles for five minutes every day, through a fun conversation starter, then guess what will happen to their thinking muscle? 🧠

Just find the time in the day that works for you and your family. Some like to do it during the school run, others at dinner time, others before bed.

It doesn’t matter when. Just find a five minute window and start asking great questions!

SOME OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO.

Questioning our kids is THE best way of developing critical thinking skills in a quick, easy, fun and effective way at home.

For completeness however, I will mention a few more things that we can do as parents. All of these further reinforce the development of critical thinking skills:

❓ Do puzzles, riddles or brainteasers. There are plenty to google but here for instance is a list that spans from fun to serious. I like them since they are quick to ask but take a while to think about.

🎲 Play strategy board games. There are many strategy games available nowadays, see for instance this top 10 list . Chess is my all-time favourite and even playing against the computer is a good way to build critical thinking skills.

📲 Use critical thinking apps for kids. Our “ KidCoachApp ” requires interaction between parent and child, but if you want to park your child in front of the iPad for a while then check out this list. They cover critical thinking skills that also train the brain in terms of memory, concentration and reasoning.

Critical thinking frameworks to teach your child

Kids sometimes ask me: “ But what do I think about first?”

This is where thinking frameworks are really handy to help kids deal with new situations. They are a way for your children to create certainty from uncertainty.

Let’s go through some simple examples you can teach them.

1. Think about pros and cons 👍 👎

For any situation that has at least two options / outcomes / answers, simply think of all the reasons for and against, i.e. the pros and cons. A good way of phrasing it for kids is “This would be good because….” and “This would be bad because…”

This teaches them to not jump to a solution but to take the time to consider each side of the argument, before making up their mind a balanced and considered way. It also helps them justify their response if someone asks “Why?”

👉Practice using this conversation card from the KidCoachApp, asking if social media is a good or a bad thing.

2. Ask what would X say? 💬

Perspective is so important. The world is full of diverse backgrounds, opinions and also biases. Let’s encourage our kids to seek out other viewpoints and simply asking “What would X say?” is a powerful way to help yourself see things from different sides.

👉Try it for example on this debating conversation card , on whether children need to go to school or if they can just learn from home! What your mum thinks, what your teacher would say and what your future-self would advise are all likely to be very different.

3. Put on different thinking hats 🎩

Edward de Bono came up with a great tool to help people think in different ways, called 6 Thinking Hats . The idea is that there are different colour hats which resemble different attitudes. For instance: Yellow is optimistic and benefits-led, White is data driven and analytical, Red is gut feel and instinct.

You can even state which hat you are putting on temporarily. This which gives you permission to think in a way that might be unpopular, without fear of being criticised, since you can just take the hat off again e.g. “Putting my black hat on, this will never work since….but putting my green hat on we could try something radical like….”

👉 Practice on this conversation card asking how we can reduce traffic on the roads. If there are pessimistic people in you group saying it just can’t be done, you can say “Well, just putting my Yellow hat on I think we would have far fewer accidents and much less air pollution if we did manage to reduce traffic on the roads. Wouldn’t that be a great thing? So why don’t we think harder about it for a moment? ” Then you can easily switch to a White Hat: “But being realistic and looking at the data, number of people and number of cars being made are just going up and up and up in our country. Maybe we can look at the data from another country to inspire us?”

Do you see how 6 Thinking Hats helps the very same child switch modes of thought seamlessly, by putting on different “hats”?

4. Use thinking moves 🔤

The most advanced framework we will cover here is from a company called DialogueWorks. They are on the Advisory Board for the KidCoachApp, and have come up with a neat list of 26 different thinking moves , one for each letter of the alphabet.

Each thinking move is a way of thinking about a situation task or problem. I find the framework very memorable.

Here are some of the most important ones here, along with the key question you can ask yourself when doing the move.

Ahead: what could happen next?
Back: what happened the last time?
Connect: how do those connect?
Divide: how do those differ?
Formulate: what ideas can we come up with?
Listen/Look: what do you notice?
Question: what’s is the best question to ask here?
Test: how can we tell if that will work?
eXemplify: Can you give me an example?
Zoom in/out: what is the bigger picture?

Practice using this conversation card from the KidCoachApp. It’s a philosophical topic on if you would want to live forever!

Here is how the thinking moves above might play out (just some examples to illustrate):

Ahead: If I lived forever I would be able to do so many things
‍ Back: People have tried to live forever in the past but it hasn’t really worked
‍ Formulate: Let’s ask others for ideas on what we could do
‍ Listen/Look: Let’s go talk to someone really old to see what their life is like
‍ Question: Can my family live forever with me too?
‍ Test: How can I try it for awhile but still be able to go back if I want to?
‍ eXemplify: If I lived forever I would be able to travel to Mars one day!
‍ Zoom: I wonder if doing more stuff is really going to make me happy?

I hope these frameworks help. Teach some to your kids to use when faced with a challenging problem to solve!

An example of excellent critical thinking

🏙️ A few years ago Emma was working as a facilities manager of a tall skyscraper in London. There was a problem with the lifts serving all the different companies. She noticed that at lunchtime there were large queues forming on many floors as office workers all wanted to go and get a sandwich at the same time. This was causing irritation and lots of complaint emails were being sent her way!

Being a good critical thinker, she set out to find a nice solution to this problem. Maybe Emma could stagger the lunchtimes by floor somehow? Or maybe she could install sandwich kiosks on some floors? Maybe she could get people to use the stairs? Or did she need to build more lifts and lift shafts?

This could all work but would the issue was that it would require people to either change their behaviour (difficult) or build new things (costly).

Then she “zoomed out” and asked herself, one simple question:

“ Am I solving the right problem? ”

💡 Emma quickly realised she was solving the problem of "long queues", when actually the real problem was "people getting annoyed."

So what did she do?

Her solution was to simply to install full length mirrors next to the lift doors , so while people were waiting they could see themselves and be distracted for a while.

Sounds too simple but it worked! Complaints went way down and people were much happier. Through the power of critical thinking, Emma found a low cost and super effective solution to her problem.

What would your child do in this situation? Here is a free conversation card from the KidCoachApp to guide you. Try it out tonight!

What is the best age to start?

Right. Now.

Children are naturally good critical thinkers. Their world has no bounds and everything is still possible. So let’s keep nurturing the creativity, curiosity and critical thinking skills from as young an age as possible!

The conversation cards in the KidCoachApp are perfect for 6 – 12 year olds.

As kids grow into adults they will set more boundaries on things, just like we do: “We have always done it like this!” or “That’s not possible.”

Let’s delay this for as long as possible!!!

Let me give you an example.

I was watching TV with my daughter recently and a donation appeal popped up, asking for money to feed hungry children in Africa. My daughter started asking why they are hungry, and I said “Because they are” , and she said “Why can’t we give them more food” , and I said “Because it is difficult” etc. But my daughter kept pressing – “Why? Why? Why?”

And frankly, she has a good point.

There is an awful lot of food in the world, but perhaps it is just not distributed well enough. How much food goes to waste in an average “Western” household, and how could that instead end up feeding the needy in Africa or other places?

Perhaps it requires a next generation of super critical thinkers to break through the commonly accepted “wisdom” of us grown-ups, to find a new way of doing important things.

💚 Raising a child who is a good critical thinking is not just good for them, but will undoubtedly help society also! 💚

10 free critical thinking questions for kids

I've linked to loads of our questions free for you in this article, but I want to give you even more ideas here!

Because I am feeling generous I am including links to some of these complete questions cards in the KidCoachApp , where you will find lots of helpful prompts and guidance. It's normally paid for, although just £4.99 / month and with a completely free 2 week trial, so I think very reasonable.

How many iPads do you think there are in the world?
‍ How many grains of sand do you think there are on a typical beach?
‍ If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be and why?
‍ How would you improve a sofa to make it better?
‍ If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

For the rest of these links you will just have to download the KidCoachApp 😊:

How can you make £100 by next week if you wanted to?
What would you name a new colour?
What are 10 different things you can do a cup?
When Baby Shark grows up, will he still be called Baby Shark?
What would happen if it never rained?

Does the KidCoachApp really work?

Yes! It really does. 😃

But don’t just take my word for it.

Listen to this TED talk by Ian Gilbert, author of the famous THUNKS – questions to make kids’ brains go ouch! Ian is also a member of our Advisory Board at KidCoachApp , and we have worked with him closely in the development of the app. He said: “What gives anyone the edge is their ability to think - deeply, analytically, critically, creatively, empathically and for themselves. I think the range and quality of the questions in the KidCoachApp will support any parent who wants to give their child that edge."

Or take Jane Slinn , who is the founder of Independent Thinkers tuition agency. She said that: “I always emphasise to parents that they should sustain learning and encourage intellectual curiosity between and beyond weekly tutoring sessions. The KidCoachApp is perfect for this: it provides parents with hundreds of fun, stimulating questions to ask their kids that will get them talking and thinking."

And what about parents themselves? There are countless testimonials to pick from. You could watch what Bhavisha had to say here or read any review on the app stores, like this one from Alison:

💬 “Fantastic app for developing young minds. This app is a really effective way of helping parents think of interesting topics to discuss with their kids and helps develop communication, confidence, analytical thinking, creativity and more. It supports us in progressing the conversation to get the most from it and has some great topics to discuss. Such a great idea, thank you!”

‍ What shall I do next?

By now you will be excited about how you can effectively build critical thinking skills simply through conversation with your kids. A five minute conversation every other day is so easy to fit in, and we do all the hard work for you putting fantastic thinking questions right in the palm of your hand.

💥To make the most of this, you need to download the KidCoachApp from your usual app store to start your 2 week free trial within seconds. No payment details needed – so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. After that it is just £4.99/ month, or even cheaper if you go for the annual plan (like many parents do).

💓 I am super passionate about helping parents develop key skills in their kids, simply through conversation. I even quit my cushy corporate job to start up KidCoachApp, such was my passion and belief that I can be helpful.

💡 Let me inspire you now.

Download the KidCoachApp now! 👇

Start your free 2 week trial seconds. No payment details needed.

Kavin Wadhar

Kavin Wadhar is a parent of 2 kids and founder of www.KidCoach.app: guided conversations for parents to get their kids talking, thinking and feeling. Kavin left his corporate role in education publishing to pursue his passion to help parents develop in their kids the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s world. Working with a team of parents and education experts, Kavin has built an App for parents with hundreds of questions like those in this article, and with additional guidance / prompts to take conversations deeper. Check it out!

Want more like this?

Most popular articles:, connect through conversation, download the kidcoachapp free for hundreds of quick, fun and thought-provoking questions your kids will love.

Critical thinking is a 21st-century essential — here’s how to help kids learn it

By Mary Halton on May 9, 2019 in News + Updates

Jordan Awan

If we want children to thrive in our complicated world, we need to teach them how to think, says educator Brian Oshiro. And we can do it with 4 simple questions.

We all want the young people in our lives to thrive, but there’s no clear consensus about what will best put them on the path to future success. Should every child be taught to code? Attain fluency in Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi and English?

Those are great, but they’re not enough, says educator and teacher trainer Brian Oshiro . If we want our children to have flexible minds that can readily absorb new information and respond to complex problems, he says, we need to develop their critical thinking skills.

In adult life, “we all have to deal with questions that are a lot more complicated than those found on a multiple-choice test,” he says in a TEDxXiguan talk. “We need to give students an opportunity to grapple with questions that don’t necessarily have one correct answer. This is more realistic of the types of situations that they’re likely to face when they get outside the classroom.”

How can we encourage kids to think critically from an early age? Through an activity that every child is already an expert at — asking questions.

1. Go beyond “what?” — and ask “how?” and “why?”

Let’s say your child is learning about climate change in school. Their teacher may ask them a question like “What are the main causes of climate change?” Oshiro says there are two problems with this question — it can be answered with a quick web search, and being able to answer it gives people a false sense of security; it makes them feel like they know a topic, but their knowledge is superficial.

At home, prompt your kid to answer questions such as “ How exactly does X cause climate change?” and “ Why should we worry about it?” To answer, they’ll need to go beyond the bare facts and really think about a subject.

Other great questions: “ How will climate change affect where we live?” or “ Why should our town in particular worry about climate change?” Localizing questions gives kids, says Oshiro, “an opportunity to connect whatever knowledge they have to something personal in their lives.”

2. Follow it up with “How do you know this?”

Oshiro says, “They have to provide some sort of evidence and be able to defend their answer against some logical attack.” Answering this question requires kids to reflect on their previous statements and assess where they’re getting their information from.

3. Prompt them to think about how their perspective may differ from other people’s.

Ask a question like “How will climate change affect people living in X country or X city?” or “Why should people living in X country or X city worry about it?” Kids will be pushed to think about the priorities and concerns of others, says Oshiro, and to try to understand their perspectives — essential elements of creative problem-solving.

4. Finally, ask them how to solve this problem.

But be sure to focus the question. For example, rather than ask “How can we solve climate change?” — which is too big for anyone to wrap their mind around — ask “How could we address and solve cause X of climate change?” Answering this question will require kids to synthesize their knowledge. Nudge them to come up with a variety of approaches: What scientific solution could address cause X? What’s a financial solution? Political solution?

You can start this project any time on any topic; you don’t have to be an expert on what your kids are studying. This is about teaching them to think for themselves. Your role is to direct their questions, listen and respond. Meanwhile, your kids “have to think about how they’re going to put this into digestible pieces for you to understand it,” says Oshiro. “It’s a great way to consolidate learning.”

Critical thinking isn’t just for the young, of course. He says, “If you’re a lifelong learner, ask yourself these types of questions in order to test your assumptions about what you think you already know.” As he adds, “We can all improve and support critical thinking by asking a few extra questions each day.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Halton is Assistant Ideas Editor at TED, and a science journalist based in the Pacific Northwest.

This post was originally published on TED Ideas . It’s part of the “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from someone in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.

Critical thinking is a 21st-century essential — here’s how to help kids learn it

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If we want children to thrive in our complicated world, we need to teach them how to think, says educator Brian Oshiro. And we can do it with 4 simple questions.

This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from someone in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.

How can we encourage kids to think critically from an early age? Through an activity that every child is already an expert at — asking questions.

1. Go beyond “what?” — and ask “how?” and “why?”

2. Follow it up with “How do you know this?”

3. Prompt them to think about how their perspective may differ from other people’s.

4. Finally, ask them how to solve this problem.

Watch his TEDxXiguan talk now:

About the author

Mary Halton is a science journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. You can find her on Twitter at @maryhalton

brian oshiro
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10 Tips for Teaching Kids To Be Awesome Critical Thinkers

Help students dig deeper!

"Critical thinking" written on sticky notes

For more tips, check out Mentoring Minds’ Critical Thinking Strategies Guide —a flip chart packed with question stems and lesson ideas to help teach kids to become better critical and creative thinkers.

Getting students to dig deeper and answer questions using higher-level thinking can be a challenge. Here are our favorite tips for teaching critical thinking skills, adapted from Mentoring Minds’ Critical Thinking Strategies Guide, that help kids solve problems by going beyond the obvious response.

1. Slow down the pace.

It’s easy to fall into a routine of calling on one of the first kids who raises a hand. But if you wait even just 3 to 5 seconds after asking a question, you’ll probably find the pool of students willing to give an answer grows significantly. Plus, it helps the speedy kids learn that the first answer that pops into their head isn’t always the best. There are times you may even want to wait up to a minute or longer if the question is particularly complex or time-consuming. To avoid an awkward pause, you can let kids know that they have 10 seconds to think before answering the question or that you need to see 10 hands raised from volunteers before you hear a response.

2. Pose a Question of the Day.

Put a new spin on bell ringers by asking a Question of the Day. Use a questioning stem (e.g., create a riddle that uses the mathematics term “multiply” in one of the clues or write a letter to a classmate recommending this book) and put it on the board. Students can write answers in their critical-thinking journals. Then have a class discussion at the end of the day.

3. Make a response box.

Write a random critical-thinking question on the board, (e.g., Is there a better way to work out this problem? Explain your thinking.). Give students a specified amount of time to provide a written response and put it in the response box. Pull out entries one by one and read them aloud to the class. Alternatively, you can give a prize—like a homework pass or free time—to the student with the first appropriate response whose name is drawn from the box or to everyone who submitted appropriate answers.

4. Take a side.

First, read a statement that has two opposing views (e.g., Do you agree or disagree with the author? Why?). Ask kids who agree to stand on one side of the room and those who disagree to stand on the other side. Then have kids talk about why they chose each side. They can switch sides if they change their minds during the discussion.

5. Ask “why?” five times.

When you encounter a problem in class, you can help the class come up with a solution by using the Why? Five Times strategy. Ask the first why question (e.g., Why didn’t the class do well on the spelling test?), and after a response is given, ask why four more times (e.g., Why didn’t students study for the test?, Why didn’t students have time to study for the test?, etc.). The idea is that after the fifth question is asked, the problem will be solved.

6. Role-play.

Come up with an imaginary scenario and have kids work through the steps to solve a problem as a class. First, identify the problem and write it as a question (e.g., Why didn’t the science experiment work as planned?). Then brainstorm ideas to solve it and choose the best one to write as a solution statement. Finally, create an action plan to carry out the solution.

7. Go “hitchhiking.”

Practice creative thinking by collaborating on a storyboard. Write a problem on an index card and pin it on the top of a bulletin board. Then put different headings on index cards and pin them below the main card. Have kids brainstorm ideas that develop each of the heading cards and let kids pin them on the board. Encourage kids to “go hitchhiking” by building onto their classmates’ ideas.

8. Turn around.

A great way to focus on the positive in not-so-positive situations is the Turn Around thinking strategy. If a student forgets to bring his homework to school, you can ask, “What good can come of this?” The student can answer with ideas like, “I will change my routine before I go to bed.”

9. Put your pocket chart to good use.

Choose six completed questioning stems from different levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy and put them in a pocket chart. Choose some strips as mandatory and let kids pick two from the higher levels to answer aloud or in a journal.

10. Hold a Q&A session.

One way you can figure out how well kids are grasping critical-thinking skills is by holding question-and-answer sessions. Ask a variety of questions one-on-one or in small groups and take note of the levels of thought individual students use regularly and avoid over time. You can review your notes to help build more higher-order-thinking questions into your lessons.

FREE E-BOOK! How to Build a 36-Week Character Education Program . S upport social-emotional learning through a critical thinking lens with 36 projects and activities plus tips, research, and more!

Examples of critical thinking skills like correlation tick-tac-Toe, which teaches analysis skills and debates which teach evaluation skills.

5 Critical Thinking Skills Every Kid Needs To Learn (And How To Teach Them)

Teach them to thoughtfully question the world around them. Continue Reading

85 Fun Critical Thinking Questions for Kids & Teens

students laughing as they answer critical thinking questions

Have you ever thought about using fun questions to practice critical thinking?

Students may need a little guidance to think their way through questions that lack straightforward answers.

But it is that process that is important!

How the Right Questions Encourage Critical Thinking

Every parent knows how natural it is for children to ask questions.

It should be encouraged. After all, asking questions helps with critical thinking.

As they grow older, however, training them to answer questions can be equally beneficial.

Posing questions that encourage kids to analyze, compare, and evaluate information can help them develop their ability to think critically about tough topics in the future.

Of course, critical thinking questions for kids need to be age-appropriate—even better if you can mix a little fun into it!

That’s what I hope to help you with today. I’ve organized the questions below into three different ages groups:

Upper elementary
Middle school
High school

20 Questions: Exercises in Critical Thinking

Get a Question-Based Critical Thinking Exercise—Free!

Introduce critical thinking gently & easily with thought-provoking exercises.

Upper Elementary

Students in upper elementary grades can be reluctant to put themselves out there, especially with answers that seem weird.

In some cases, such hesitancy is actually fear of differing from their peers (and a barrier to critical thinking ).

But that’s exactly why it’s important to practice answering ambiguous questions.

We want our children to stand firm for their beliefs—not cave to peer pressure.

Additionally, students may feel uneasy about answering serious questions, uncertain of tackling “big” problems.

However, with careful use of creative questions for kids, it’s possible to engage even the most reluctant children in this age group.

The idea is to simply get them interested in the conversation and questions asked.

If you have an especially reserved student, try starting with the funny critical thinking questions.

Humor is a natural icebreaker that can make critical thinking questions more lighthearted and enjoyable.

Of course, most younger kids just like to be silly, so playing upon that can keep them active and engaged.

With that said, here are some great questions to get you started:

1. Someone gives you a penguin. You can’t sell it or give it away. What do you do with it?

2. What would it be like if people could fly?

3. If animals could talk, what question would you ask?

4. If you were ice cream, what kind would you be and why?

5. Do you want to travel back in time? If yes, how far back would you go? If no, why not?

6. What could you invent that would help your family?

7. If you could stay up all night, what would you do?

8. What does the man on the moon do during the day?

9. What makes something weird or normal?

10. Can you describe the tastes “salty” and “sweet” without using those words?

11. What does it feel like to ride a rollercoaster?

12. What makes a joke funny?

13. What two items would you take if you knew you would be stranded on an island and why?

14. Do you have a favorite way of laughing?

15. What noise makes you cringe and cover your ears? Why?

16. If you could be the parent for the day, what would you do?

17. If you could jump into your favorite movie and change the outcome, which one would you pick and why?

18. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

19. What makes a day “perfect”?

20. If you owned a store, what kind of products would you sell?

21. If your parents were your age, would you be friends with them?

22. Would you still like your favorite food if it tasted the same as always, but now had an awful smell?

23. What would you do if you forgot to put your shoes on before leaving home?

24. Who would you be if you were a cartoon character?

25. How many hot dogs do you think you could eat in one sitting?

26. If you could breathe under water, what would you explore?

27. At what age do you think you stop being a kid?

28. If you had springs in your legs, what would you be able to do?

29. Can you describe the color blue to someone if they’re blind?

Middle School

At this point, students start to acquire more complex skills and are able to form their own conclusions based on the information they’re given.

However, we can’t expect deep philosophical debates with 12 and 13 year olds.

That said, as parent-teachers, we can certainly begin using more challenging questions to help them examine and rationalize their thought processes.

Browse the fun critical thinking questions below for students in this age range.

You might be surprised to see how receptive middle school kids can be to such thought-provoking (yet still fun) questions .

30. What would happen if it really did rain cats and dogs?

31. What does it mean to be lucky?

32. If you woke up in the middle of a dream, where would you be?

33. Is it ever okay to lie? Why or why not?

34. If you were solely responsible for creating laws, what one law would you make?

35. What makes a person a good friend?

36. What do you think is the most important skill you can take into adulthood?

37. If you had to give up lunch or dinner, which would you choose? Why?

38. How much money would you need to be considered rich?

39. If you knew you wouldn’t get caught, would you cheat on a test?

40. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?

41. What is your greatest strength? How is that an asset?

42. If you had an opportunity to visit the International Space Station, would you do it?

43. Is it better to keep the peace or speak your mind?

44. Imagine yourself as your favorite animal. How would you spend your day?

45. Would you be friends with someone who didn’t have the same values as you?

46. How much screen time do you think is too much?

47. Can you describe your favorite color without naming it?

48. If you suddenly became blind, would you see things differently?

49. Would you ever go skydiving?

50. Describe the time you were the happiest in your life. Why did this make you happy?

51. If you had a million dollars, what would you do?

52. If you had to move to a new city, would you change how you present yourself to others?

53. What do you need to do in order to be famous?

54. If you could rewrite the ending of your favorite book or movie, what changes would you make?

55. How would you tackle a huge goal?

56. How would you sell ice to an eskimo in Alaska successfully?

57. What makes you unique?

High School

Critical thinking takes on an entirely different role once students reach high school.

At this age, they have a greater sense of right and wrong (and what makes things so) as well as a better understanding of the world’s challenges.

Guiding teens to delve deeper and contemplate such things is an important part of developing their reasoning and critical thinking skills.

Whether it’s fun questions about hypothetical superpowers or tough critical thinking questions about life, older teens typically have what it takes to think their way to a logical conclusion .

Of course, use your discernment as you choose discussion topics, but here are some questions to help get you started:

58. How can you avoid [common problem] in the future?

59. Do you think it’s okay to take a life in order to save 5, 10, 20 or more people?

60. If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what would it be?

61. Is it better to give or receive a gift?

62. How important is it to be financially secure? Why?

63. If it was up to you, what one rule would you change in your family?

64. What would you do if a group of friends wanted to do something that you thought was a bad idea?

65. How do you know that something is a fact rather than an opinion?

66. What would it take to get you to change your mind?

67. What’s the most important thing in your life?

68. If money were of no concern, what job would you choose and why?

69. How do you know if you’re happy?

70. Do you think euthanasia is moral?

71. What is something you can do today that you weren’t able to do a year ago?

72. Is social media a good thing or not?

73. Is it right to keep animals in a zoo?

74. How does your attitude affect your abilities?

75. What would you do if you found out a friend was doing something dangerous?

76. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?

77. What will life on Earth look like in 50 years?

78. Which is more important, ending world hunger or global warming?

79. Is it a good idea to lower the voting age to 16? Why or why not?

80. If the electrical power went out today, how would you cook if using wood wasn’t an option?

81. If you could magically transport yourself to any other place, where would that be and why?

82. When should teenagers be able to stay out all night?

83. Does the number zero actually exist?

84. What defines a generous person?

85. Does an influential person influence everyone?

Feel free to print out these fun critical thinking questions and incorporate them into your homeschool week!

will your children recognize truth?

About the author.

Jordan Mitchell

85 Critical Thinking Worksheets That Are Fun For Kids

November 19, 2022
Math Worksheets

Mathematics is all about patterns and critical thinking . You may be surprised to find that at least one pattern exists in whatever the concept may be.

The pattern may repeat once or several times, in an alternate manner, or by skipping tens. There are many such examples of patterns.

Counting and Number Patterns

Counting is easy if the numbers in a set or pattern are only differentiated by 1. The challenge is when the patterns utilize more than one way in it to arrive at an answer.

Primarily, a counting box is used to learn all about the basic patterns. It has 10 vertical columns and 10 horizontal rows.

Along a row, the pattern is, 1 is to be added when moving from one number to another. For example, if you begin with 0, add 1, and the resulting number in the next box will be 1.

Similarly to that 1, add 1, and the resulting number in the next box will be 2. In this way, the pattern moves forward until the final box has the number 9

Along a column, the pattern is, 10 is to be added when moving from one number to another. For example, if you begin with 0, add 10, and the resulting number in the next box will be 10.

Similarly to that 10, add 10, and the resulting number in the next box will be 20. In this way, the pattern moves downwards until the final box has the number 90.

The end box number of each row or column differs. In the vertical column, the difference is 10, and the pattern goes 9, 19, 29……. In the horizontal row, the difference is 1, and the pattern goes 90, 91, 92…..

The patterns are not restricted to any specific numerical value or shape. They keep on changing, and so does their base pattern.

To solve any kind of pattern, irrespective of shape, all you have to find out is the foundational rule of the set, and the pattern will reveal itself before you in no time.

The main aim of utilizing patterns is it helps the student develop critical or lateral thinking. It expands the narrowed vision of students, and a much broader spectrum enables them to formulate solutions on their own in a unique way.

The below page mini-packet covers basic counting and number patterns. It uses puzzles to help students better understand numbers and their patterns.

Key concept: Counting and understanding number patterns are crucial concepts that all students need to master and can save them time as mathematics becomes more difficult.

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Pattern Puzzles – Level 1

The below worksheets has students determine the missing values of three different puzzles. Students need to find the pattern and then calculate the missing amounts.

Key concept: Mathematics is filled with patterns. The better students are at seeing them the faster they get at solving problems.

Numerical Puzzles – Level 1

The below worksheets includes math puzzles.

Patterns and Puzzles (B) – Level 2

The below worksheets has three different puzzles for students to recognize patterns.

Key concept: Puzzle and Pattern problems help students think of alternative solutions and solve more complex problems.

Math Puzzles – Numbers Level 2

The below worksheets has students solve various puzzles. They either determine the missing values or find the number that does not belong in a group.

Key concept: Patterns and puzzles are a great alternative to helping students gain confidence in solving problems.

Adding and Subtracting Review All Levels

The below worksheet is designed to help students review addition and subtraction. Students add or subtract a certain number and follow the pattern until helping Action Joe escape.

Multiples / Multiplication Practice – All Levels

The below worksheet reviews multiples to help students with their multiplication. Students find the multiples from least to greatest in each maze to help Action Joe .

Multiplying and Dividing Review- All Levels

The below worksheet is designed to help students review multiplication and division. Students multiply and divide a certain number and follow the pattern until helping Action Joe find the treasure

Mixed Review – All Levels

The below worksheets is designed to help students with basic review. Vocabulary covered: least, greatest, multiples, divisible, prime numbers, perfect square, odd, and even. Another adventure for Action Joe .

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Algebraic Operations Puzzles

The various Algebraic Operations of Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction are part of the pattern formation. It is not so that only one type of operation is part of one pattern.

The problem may exhibit multiple operational incorporations in numerous patterns. The complexity only increases from here; there is no step back to the pattern we studied earlier.

It is also possible that patterns may not only run linearly. They may be backward and diagonally too, and this is precisely what patterns make the students comprehend that there is immense space for alternative solutions.

Inequality Puzzles

These are again a subpart of the Operational Puzzles. Instead of the usual arithmetic operations in equations and expressions, these have a greater than and lesser than symbols.

Although this is the case, the key is still the same to unlock them. Figure out the pattern, and you can understand how the expression has been created.

One clue is, there is one false expression between two true ones. So start by eliminating the false ones, and you will have the true ones appearing.

This maze worksheet reviews inequalities. Students find the true statements and follow them to help Turkey Eddie get to his feast.

Helpful hint: The maze might look big but if student’s think about it, certain problems can be eliminated because they are between two true statements.

Logical Puzzles (Mazes) – All Levels

The below worksheet has four different mazes to challenge your students.

Key concept: Puzzle and Pattern problems help students think of alternative solutions, especially working backwards. You might be surprised who finishes each maze first.

Input-Output Tables

In these types of tables, the pattern is to figure out the number of additions, how many times multiplication occurs, whether the denominator is greater than the numerator in divisions, and subtracting gives negative or positive integers.

If the given input values are – 45, 51, 62, and 75, and the output values of first and third are 47 and 64, then you can guess the rule to be ‘Add 2’. And so, the output values will be for the second and fourth will be 53 and 77.

These one page worksheets cover input-output tables. Students need to find the rules and complete the tables. Input-output tables help students recognize patterns and build a relationship between lines and equations. There is a different worksheet for each level.

Multiplication and Geometry Game

Activity excites students, and it is thus the best way to explain new and complex concepts. You can also teach patterns with the help of these Multiplication and Geometric Games.

A sheet containing many boxes, each with two statements, should be printed and cut into respective boxes. One statement is an expression with ‘I have,’ and another with ‘Who has.’ Both expressions are different and unrelated to each other

Best as a group activity, you should distribute these chits to all the students. Each student should then loudly read both the expressions with their headings of ‘Who has’ and ‘I have.’

The students must then figure out whether they have either of the statements read aloud by the said student. If they do, they should respond with the correct expression to the expressions in question.

These games will improve their hunger for competition, and a bonus will be their perfect grasp of the lesson. Also, they will understand some unconventional ways, where there is more than one answer to a question.

An Example from the Geometry Game: A square can be a rhombus, but a rhombus is not a square. These types of conclusions cannot be arrived upon by simply going through the lesson. The students need to use their critical thinking skills.

The below worksheet describes about the gam

Subtracting Fractions

There are normal fractions, and then there are mixed fractions that first need to be converted to normal functions to move forward with subtracting.

To do that, multiply the denominator with the left whole number and add to it the numerator value. The answer you get will be the normal numerator, and the denominator will remain the same.

If there are no mixed fractions in the expression to be solved, you can directly begin from the following step of multiplication.

For the subtracting part, cross multiply the denominators with the numerators of the opposite terms and with the denominators too. This will give a common denominator.

However, in the numerator, the multiplied answers are separated by the algebraic function: subtraction. Subtract the numerators, and there you have the final fraction answer.

The below maze worksheets have students answer subtracting fraction problems and then use the answers in the numerator or dinominator to move Mr. Bunny in the stated direction to find the missing egg. There is a different worksheet for each level.

Area Puzzles

Ever imagined measuring something without using a ruler? No? With this concept of Area Puzzles, you can measure the different lengths of the unnamed shape or quadrilateral using the given data itself.

The values of the areas given of the smaller boxes are nothing but the squares of their sides. This way, you will get the measurement of sides of the adjacent squares, and you can ultimately reach the box whose area actually needs to be calculated.

These puzzles also follow the principle of patterns and critical thinking.

The below worksheets is an area puzzle where students try to determine if the quadrilateral is a square or not. They need to use the given information to find the sides of the other smaller squares inside the shape and then use that information to determine the length and width of the larger quadrilateral.

Use the concepts of Coordinate Algebra in playing this game. All rules, points, coordinates must be adhered to when the game is in progress.

Who Done It?

Use the concepts of Time and Money to figure out the robbery. Carefully read the timings, money bills, and any other such data while processing the solution.

The below worksheet has students use their basic math skills to solve a robbery. They read the information and look at the pictures to figure out who committed the crime.

Who is Who?

This requires logic and reasoning. The students learn to differentiate between which are the factual statements and which are the false ones.

Critical thinking and pattern figuring are the way to go about this.

Who is Who? Soccer – Level 3

The below word problem worksheet has students put together information and solve simple problems to organize details about a soccer (football) team.

Math Vocabulary

To solve this, you will need to understand and learn different concepts’ definitions, key terms, and alternate names. Beginning with types of numbers, continuing with decimals, fractions, exponents, and towards the end, graphs, mid-point, etc.

One common misconception among the majority of the students is, they equalize Factors and Multiples. Let us give a once over to them.

Factors are exact divisible numbers to the one in question, without leaving any remainder. These are less in number compared to Multiples.

Multiples are the results of multiplying a number with another number. Both the two multiplying numbers are the factors of the result, which is the Multiple.

Multiples have factors. The reverse is also possible but rare in occurrence.

Example: 5 x 4 = 20

Here,

5 and 4 are factors of 20.

20 is the multiple of 5 and 4

The below worksheet helps students practice basic math vocabulary. It can be used as a single worksheet or separated into two smaller ones and used as warm ups.

Critical Thinking – Multiplication Level 1

The below worksheets is on multiplication. Students use two sets of 0-9 numbers to fill in the empty boxes. They look at each picture and use their basic multiplication skills to answer the number of each item.

Critical Thinking A – Level 2

The below worksheet is on math terminology. Students use two sets of 0-9 numbers to fill in the empty boxes. They need to use their basic math vocabulary and thinking process to answer the questions correctly.

Critical Thinking C – Level 2

The belo worksheet is on math terminology. Students use two sets of 0-9 numbers to fill in the empty boxes. They need to use their basic math vocabulary and thinking process to answer the questions correctly.

Critical Thinking D – Level 3

Critical thinking e – level 3.

Variable and Substitution Puzzles

Use the concepts of Variables and Substitutions as studied earlier, and solve the puzzles.

Variable Puzzles – Level 1

The below worksheets use puzzles to help kids practice their algebra skills. Students are given five variables (letters) and have to find what numbers they represent. They are given equations as clues and a grid to help solve the unknown variables. This can also be used to practice the process of elimination for test taking skills.

Substitution Puzzle – Level 2

The below worksheet has students determine the value of three shapes and then substitute the values into expressions. It also reviews the order of operations.

Mean, Median, Mode, and Range Puzzles

Use the concepts of Mean, Median, Mode, and Range to solve the respective puzzles. Apply practically in recognizing the patterns.

The below worksheet help students practice mean, median, mode, and range. Students need to calculate the missing cards based on the given clues.

Crossmath Puzzles

These refer to using the different Algebraic Operations in the combination of twos. As in a crossword puzzle, the more you solve the clues, the easier it is to find the remaining words; similar is the case with solving these crossmath puzzles.

Begin by using one-digit numbers in multiplication to similar numbers. Use your tables to try /the trial and error method and fill in the boxes.

Crossmath Puzzle – Level 1

The below worksheets is similar to a crossword puzzle. The goal is to fill in the empty spaces using the arithmetic to get the answers at the bottom and right column. Each puzzle has a set of numbers that can only be used once. Addition and Subtraction .

Help page for crossmath puzzle

Crossmath Puzzle – Level 2

Crossmath Puzzle – Level 3

The below worksheet is similar to a crossword puzzle. The goal is to fill in the empty spaces using the arithmetic to get the answers at the bottom and right column. Each puzzle has a set of numbers that can only be used once. Multiplication and Division .

Crossmath Puzzle – Level 4

Crossmath Puzzle – Level 5

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Enquiry Learning

This refers to understanding a concept based on one’s conclusions regarding the various algebraic expressions. There is no one true answer.

The possibilities are many, but you need to explain how and why you arrived at a particular conclusion for each word problem. Verbal Expressions are more prominently found, so understand and comprehend what the questioner is asking you.

Gather data, explore different possibilities. Finally, select the aptest one and suited to be the solution to the particular question.

The below worksheets has enquiry learning problems. Each question could have multiple solutions, but the students are expected to show how they came up with their conclusions.

Enquiry Learning – Probability

The below worksheet has three enquiry learning problems. Each probability question could have multiple solutions, but the students are expected to show how they came up with their conclusions.

Situations are unpredictable, and out of them, you need to make a good sample and best inferences by using critical thinking. Data is crucial to this.

The best output, along with the merits and demerits, gives a sample substance and the fuel to move it further. If you fail to think exponentially, meaning out of the ordinary, the chances of your solution matching with others increases, making your sample difficult to be accepted.

The below worksheet covers sampling. It includes word problems that ask students to examine samples, show whether or not it fairly represents the entire population, and think about how certain samples can produce better inferences.

Venn Diagrams

Repetition does not always work. Rather than writing stuff twice, you can find the similarities and dissimilarities among the data and create a diagram pointing out those with focus.

These diagrams are called ‘Venn Diagrams,’ and these are circular.

If there are three things in comparison and there is a resemblance, then the three shapes overlap each other. The likes are then mentioned in the overlapping part representing that the highlighted part depicts the qualities common to the three in comparison.

If there are only two comparable quantities, the method used is the same.

Differentials are written in the respective circles, parts that do not overlap with the adjacent circles.

The below worksheets introduces Venn diagrams. Students use Venn diagrams to show the relationship between two sets of information.

Critical Thinking Help Packets

Counting and number patterns- level 2.

The below worksheet covers basic counting and number patterns. It uses puzzles to help students better understand numbers and their patterns.

Download worksheet

Venn Diagrams – Level 1

The below worksheet introduces Venn Diagrams. Students learn to use pictures (circles) to help represent sets and show how they are related.

Critical thinking in mathematics, especially in Algebraic Concepts, is crucial to expand further your knowledge and understanding of all concepts relating to it.

If you do not stretch your mental capacity far wide and develop the skill of multilateral thinking, then the chances of excelling at Algebra lessen significantly.

Teach Your Kids Critical Thinking

Strengthen your child's mind with Critikid’s videos and activities. Our courses teach children how to rationally analyze information, arguments, and even their own thought processes.

Explore Courses

★★★★★ My 8 year old son LOVED [Fallacy Detectors] part 1 and had so much fun doing the quizzes! I also had a great time watching it and talking about it. — Megan, parent

★★★★★ I learned about different types of fallacies which help me to identify them when having a conversation. I've been able to identify LOADS of circular reasoning! — Adèle, 9

★★★★★ The videos are great! They're fun, engaging, and in just a few days, my son is understanding logical fallacies so much better than he was before, after like a year of lessons! — Anonymous

★★★★★ [My daughter] followed the entire Fallacy Detector Part 1 and immediately asked to do the other classes as well ... we had a very long discussion about what she learned over dinner. — Nino, parent

★★★★★ Critikid is an all-around great tool for children and teens who want to develop their analytical skills. — Ben, 15

★★★★★ The reason why we are so confused in life is because we just consume and never really chew information. Critikid is a fabulous website that addresses the most important skill that anyone should have, CRITICAL THINKING. — Dominika, piano teacher

Fallacy Detectors Part 1

Develop the skills to tackle logical fallacies through a series of 10 science-fiction videos with activities. Recommended for ages 8-12.

Symbolic Logic for Teens Part 1

Learn how to make sense of complicated arguments with 14 video lessons and activities. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Worksheets & Lesson Plans

Symbolic Logic Worksheets

Worksheets covering the basics of symbolic logic for children ages 12 and up.

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Elementary School Bundle

These lesson plans and worksheets teach students in grades 2-5 about superstitions, different perspectives, facts and opinions, the false dilemma fallacy, and probability.

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Middle School Bundle

These lesson plans and worksheets teach students in grades 5-8 about false memories, confirmation bias, Occam's razor, the strawman fallacy, and pareidolia.

High School Bundle

These lesson plans and worksheets teach students in grades 8-12 about critical thinking, the appeal to nature fallacy, correlation versus causation, the placebo effect, and weasel words.

Statistical Shenanigans

These lesson plans and worksheets teach students in grades 9 and up the statistical principles they need to analyze data rationally.

Critikid’s Story

My name is Stephanie and I'm an online science teacher and educational video creator. I started Critikid because I noticed a shortage of online critical thinking resources for children. I had been teaching children about logical fallacies and cognitive biases for a while, so I knew that not only could they understand those topics, but they loved learning about them!

I am funding this project through my savings, so a current priority is keeping costs down. My husband, who is a web developer, he designed and built this site. I am teaching online science classes to cover my living expenses, so all money made from sales will go towards funding more content. I don’t have a marketing budget at this time, so if you want to support this project, it would help immensely if you spread the word.

Critikid’s Mission

Critikid’s goal is to give children the tools they need to rationally think about and discuss controversial issues, not to tell them the conclusions they should draw. Critikid’s stance is pro-logic and anti-fallacy. Besides that, I am avoiding taking stances on the side, especially about hot political topics.

Critical thinking is particularly important for children these days. They spend a huge portion of their lives on the Internet, which abounds in polarizing opinions, logical fallacies, and misinformation. This is the battlefield that the kids of today must withstand, and critical thinking is their armor. Critikid’s goal is to help them forge it.

Critical thinking is careful thinking. It is the process of rationally analyzing information, arguments, and even our own thought processes. It lets us distinguish between logical and flawed reasoning in order to communicate clearly, even when communicating with ourselves.

Firstly, critical thinking makes us better communicators. Logical fallacies frequently find their way into conversations, and when we can’t identify them, they tend to derail discussions and make them unproductive. The ability to recognize when you or your conversational partner is committing a logical fallacy can help get the conversation back on track.

Critical thinking also makes us better decision-makers. Understanding cognitive biases means understanding our minds. When we can recognize our cognitive biases, we can get a better idea of why we make the decisions we do.

People who try to sell us products or ideas know all about logical fallacies and cognitive biases, and they know how to use them to their advantage. The ability to think critically helps us to defend ourselves against manipulation.

Children can do activities to develop their critical thinking skills even before they can talk. A toy that lights up when a button is pressed teaches cause and effect, peek-a-boo teaches object permanence, and nesting toys help develop problem-solving skills.

Once kids can talk, they can start to do simple experiments. For example, a parent might ask, “What do you think will happen when I mix the red and blue paint?” The child can make a prediction and then test it by mixing the paints. In the future, I'll post critical thinking activities for kids on this site.

Critikid will offer various levels targeting different age groups. Fallacy Detectors Part 1 is aimed at children ages 8-12. The formal logic course that I am now working on will target kids 13 and up.

I’ve been teaching critical thinking to children for years now, so I know that they are not only capable of understanding it, but they love it. What kid wouldn’t find it amusing to hear about the silly mistakes that even adults can make? Moreover, childhood is the best time to strengthen the mind’s defenses and teach it to recognize its biases. It only gets harder as you get older.

My name is Stephanie Simoes. I’ve been a science teacher and children’s educational video creator for many years. My background is in biology and philosophy. I’m running this project with a very small team of talented freelancers.

If you are interested in learning more about my online science classes, please email me at [email protected]

What's next

Fallacy Detectors Part 2

Coming soon! - The fallacy-busting quest continues with 10 more fallacies to defeat.

Cognitive Biases

Coming Soon - Discover the sneaky tricks your brain plays on you and become a better decision-maker.

Social Media Simulator

Coming Soon - Prepare yourself for the fallacy-filled online world.

5 Activities for Your Child That Teach Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is one of the most crucial life skills to have. It not only builds a strong character, but also creates a wise person that is humble, and successful. However, most schools are not able to nurture critical thinking abilities due to a standardized syllabus. Yet, as a parent, you can nurture your children to think critically with some activities that you can do at home.

Here are some examples of activities to understand how to teach child critical thinking.

1. Creating art.

Encouraging your child to express their thoughts through artistic outlets is an incredible way to nurture critical thinking skills. As children draw pictures or compose music to express things they might not know how to do in words, this requires a degree of critical thinking skills.

Practicing artistic skills and nurturing creativity is an indispensable activity for children to build their critical thinking skills. It is by no means a simple task. This is one of the many factors as to why art has been highly valued throughout history.

2. Solve puzzles together.

Puzzles are proven to be a great activity for children to build their neurons up. Whether it is Monopoly, tic tac toe, connect 4, jigsaw puzzles, snakes and ladder, and many others, your child will actively be building their critical thinking skills by playing these games.

Through puzzles and brain teasers, your child slowly learns how to formulate strategies, understand the fundamentals of game theory, and gradually build up these skills until it is second nature.

When it comes to puzzles, your presence is also incredibly important. These puzzles might seem daunting and unenjoyable if you let your child play alone, but it can become a fun and wonderful bonding experience when you are playing together.

3. Teach them how to create a hypothesis.

You can actively teach your child how to come up with their own ideas and theories when you are spending time with them. For example, if you are reading them a story, you could stop halfway through and start to question them about things such as what do they think about the characters, what do they think will happen later and why do they think so. Ask them how they feel the story would finish.

Impromptu and open-ended questions such as these give your child the chance to think logically, and outside the box. Sometimes, their creative answers might even surprise you! Encourage them, ask them open-ended questions, and give them ample time to come up with a great answer.

You could even use real-life situations to ask questions like these. For example, if you are having dinner together, you could ask them how they think these noodles were made, and what was the process involved. Or if you are stuck in traffic, you could ask them if they have any input on how they would fix congestion problems if they were the prime minister.

4. Play with building blocks.

Building blocks and LEGOs are great toys to build critical thinking. The endless possibilities allow your child to let their imaginations loose. By building various things with them, you are also encouraging them to utilize more of their brainpower to bring their ideas to life. From dinosaurs and buildings to space ships and model homes, as your child builds their imaginations into reality, they are actively firing up those neurons throughout the whole process.

You can also achieve great results by playing Minecraft with them. Essentially a virtual world made out of building blocks, you and your child have a great bonding experience that is both fun and educational. If Minecraft isn’t your thing – programs like Engineering For Kids encourage creativity and critical thinking in their STEM camps, classes, and events.

5. Real problems, pretend play.

Bring up a real-world problem such as world hunger or global warming to pretend play and ask them to think of solutions. For example, if they were the president of the United States of America, how would they solve these issues? Such critical thinking games for kids allow to learn about their surroundings and be aware of their environment, while also critically thinking about the issues and how to work around them.

These games also allow your children to understand the real challenges that are faced by people in the world. Through your encouragement, you can even motivate them to not only think heavily about these problems but also actively think of solutions, which might have an incredibly beneficial impact on their future careers and ideologies.

Critical thinking is the key to success

Critical thinking abilities are crucial in order to achieve success in life. It allows an individual to live their life to the fullest and to always think ahead of their actions and the consequences that will come. By nurturing critical thinking skills in your children, they will undoubtedly have a bright future ahead.

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Find Your Local Engineering For Kids

Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

Developing technical and problem-solving skills
Engaging in more active listening
Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
Seeking out more diversity of thought
Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

What information should be included?
Which information resources should the author look to?
What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
What is the most effective way to show information?
How should the report be organized?
How should it be designed?
What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

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Game Portal

45 Fun and Clever Brain Teasers for Kids with Answers!

Written by Laney Kennedy

Reviewed by Sarah Tino, M.Ed.

Engage and motivate your students with our adaptive, game-based learning platform!

Game-Based Learning
What brain teasers are
The benefits of brain teasers for kids

Math brain teasers for kids

Sometimes keeping your students engaged during a (long) school day feels like a losing battle. How do you gain their full attention while teaching the skills they need to succeed? How do you turn tough and intimidating concepts into fun, entertaining lessons that actually spark life in the classroom?

Brain teasers for kids are a great form of game-based learning that not only entertain children but also inspire some creative thought in the classroom. People of all ages can indulge in these playful — yet challenging — activities.

And some examples of when teachers might want to use brain teasers are on a bulletin board in the classroom, as a partnered activity to start a new concept or lesson, or during a rainy day indoor recess box.

We’ve gathered 45 examples of brain teasers for kids with answers, organized by category:

Table of Contents

Language brain teasers for kids :

Riddles ; Language associations ; Lateral thinking problems.

Math brain teasers for kids :

Math riddles ; Pattern problems ; Prodigy.

Visual brain teasers for kids :

Spot the difference ; Rebus puzzles ; Optical illusions ; Stroop effect test.

Use the list below to find the perfect brain teaser for your class!

What are brain teasers?

Before you explore our examples, you might be wondering what brain teasers actually are.

Cambridge Dictionary defines a brain teaser as “a problem for which it is hard to find the answer, especially one which people enjoy trying to solve as a game.”

Brain teasers are a type of puzzle — and as the list below reveals, they come in many different forms. Often presented as a riddle, question or activity, brain teasers require a little extra brainpower to solve.

It's important to note that if you have any English language learners in your class, brain teasers for kids might pose a challenge for them. If that's the case, they might need you to walk them through the brain teaser more closely, or you can find ones that better suit their language level.

Brain teasers for kids differ from other complex or abstract problems because they’re usually done for fun. Although you can use them to analyze problem-solving and critical thinking skills, they’re often used as an amusing activity to encourage logical and lateral thinking , or thinking “outside the box.”

45 Brain teasers for kids

We’ve compiled a list of language, math and visual brain teasers to get your students thinking. Get inspired by the examples below — including answers!

Language brain teasers for kids

When you hear the term “brain teaser,” a riddle is likely the first thing that comes to mind. Riddles are perplexing — sometimes misleading — questions or statements that require creative thought to solve.

Riddles are usually fun, and plenty of them can add some humour to your classroom.

Enjoy our list of riddles for kids below!

a) Billy’s mother had five children. The first was named Lala, the second was named Lele, the third was named Lili, the fourth was named Lolo. What was the fifth child named?

b) Choose the correct sentence: “The yolk of the egg is white” or “the yolk of the egg is white.”

c) It’s as light as a feather, but the strongest person can’t hold it for more than five minutes. What is it?

d) The more there is, the less you see. What is it?

e) What gets more wet while it dries?

f) You can find it in Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, but not in Venus or Neptune. What is it?

g) It likes food, but water kills it. What is it?

h) What’s full of holes but can still hold water?

i) Which is heavier, a pound of feathers or a pound of rocks?

j) How far can a dog run into the woods?

k) You’re driving a city bus. At the first stop, three women get on. At the second stop, one woman gets off and a man gets on. At the third stop, two children get on. The bus is blue and it’s raining outside in December. What colour is the bus driver’s hair?

l) There are three houses. One is red, one is blue and one is white. If the red house is to the left of the house in the middle, and the blue house is to the right of the house in the middle, where’s the white house?

m) It’s at the center of gravity and you can find it in Venus, but not Mars. What is it?

n) What goes on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three in the evening? (This is from the classic myth, Oedipus and the Riddle of the Sphinx )

o) What travels faster: heat or cold?

p) A man was walking in the rain in the middle of nowhere without a coat or an umbrella. He got soaked, but not a single hair on his head was wet. How can this be?

q) A cowboy rode into town on Friday. He stayed in town for three days and rode back out on Friday. How is this possible?

b) Neither. Egg yolks are yellow, not white!

f) The letter “R”

h) A sponge

i) Neither. Both weigh a pound!

j) Halfway. Once it reaches halfway, it’s running out of the woods.

k) Whatever colour your hair is. Remember, you’re driving the bus!

l) In Washington, D.C.

m) The letter “V”

n) A human. The times of day represent stages of human life. At the beginning of life, a baby crawls on four “feet.” As a person gets older, they walk on two feet. Later in life, a person will walk on three “feet” (two feet, plus a cane to help them walk).

o) Heat travels faster because you can catch a cold!

p) He was bald.

q) The horse’s name was Friday.

As a bonus, use these riddles to challenge preconceived notions and get students thinking about natural bias .

a) Two boxers are in a match scheduled for 12 rounds. (Pure boxing only - no kicking, UFC takedowns, or anything else). One of the boxers gets knocked out after only six rounds, yet no man throws a punch. How is this possible?

b) A father and son have a car accident and both are very injured. They are taken to separate hospitals for treatment. When the boy is taken in for an operation, the surgeon says, “I can’t do this surgery…. this boy is my son!” How is this possible?

a) The two boxers are women.

b) The surgeon is the boy’s mother.

2. Language associations

These brain teasers for kids explore the complexities of the English language. Use them to boost student knowledge of sounds, words, spelling, categorization and more.a) Word association : find a word that associates with the following sets of words.

Cake, swiss, cottage
Glasses, screen, day
Cream, cube, cap
Knife, fly, cup

b) Find the mystery word . Replace the third letter of each word with a new letter to create a different word. When read vertically, the new letters will reveal the mystery word.

For example, the word MA K E could become MA R E, MA L E, MA T E and so on. It’s your job to figure out which one works to create the mystery word.

Hint: It’s something you’ll find outside.

c) Find rhyming pairs . Unscramble the words below so that each pair of words rhymes.

RBAE & HREAS
WNROED & UTRHNDE
TUGHAT & HBTUGO
ODULC & ODOG

Mystery word: FLOWER

BEAR (or BARE) & SHARE
WONDER & THUNDER
TAUGHT & BOUGHT
COULD & GOOD

You can also use printable brain teasers for kids like this one:

Image source: Spelling Words Well

Answer: The “happy word” is SMILE.

3. Lateral thinking problems

Lateral thinking problems require creative thinking with an indirect approach.

These questions require logic and careful thought to solve. The most notable example of a lateral thinking problem is the classic Monty Hall problem .

Here are two examples of lateral thinking problems kids can try to solve.

a) The river crossing problem

Image source: Popular Mechanics

A farmer is travelling with a fox, a goose, and a bag of beans. During his journey, he comes across a river with a boat to cross it.

The farmer can only fit one thing in the boat with him at a time. If left alone together, the fox will eat the goose or the goose will eat the beans. How does the farmer get everything across the river safely?

b) The light bulb problem

There are three light switches outside of a room-- labeled number one, number two, and number three. The door to the room is closed and you can’t see in. All three switches are off.

You need to figure out which switch belongs to which bulb. You can use the switches however you want to, but can only enter the room once. How do you do it?

a) Here’s the step-by-step solution:

The farmer brings the goose across the river first (if he leaves the goose alone, it will either eat the beans or be eaten by the fox).
The farmer brings either the fox or the beans across and leaves the other one alone.
Now the farmer has two items on the other side of the river, including the goose. If he leaves the goose again, the same problem will occur. So, the farmer must bring the goose back to the other side.
The farmer brings the other item back (either the fox or the beans) and leaves the goose alone again. The fox and the beans are now on the other side of the river.
The farmer returns and brings the goose across the river again.

b) Turn on the first switch and leave it on. Turn on the second switch for a few minutes, and then turn it off again. When you enter the room, one light bulb will be on. You’ll know it goes with switch one because you turned it on. Another bulb will be hot. You’ll know that goes with switch two because it was on for a little while. The bulb that’s off and cold goes with switch three because you didn’t touch it.

Like math puzzles , these brain teasers for kids can increase engagement with math content and inspire your students to work on math concepts and problems outside of regular lessons.

1. Math riddles

These riddles are just as amusing as the ones above, but they’re math-focused . Use them to give students some extra math practice and encourage resourceful thinking.

Math riddles

a) Divide 30 by ½ and add 10. What’s the answer?

b) A clerk at the butcher shop is six feet tall and wears size 10 shoes. What does he weigh?

c) A farmer has 19 sheep on his land. One day, a big storm hits and all but seven run away. How many sheep does the farmer have left?

d) Your sock drawer only contains 18 white socks and 18 blue socks. How many times do you need to reach inside the drawer and take out a sock to guarantee a matching pair?

e) You planted sunflower seeds in your back garden. Every day, the number of flowers doubles. If it takes 52 days for the flowers to fill the garden, how many days would it take for them to fill half the garden?

f) Using only addition, how can you use eight eights to get the number 1,000?

g) When Ashley was 15, her mother was 37. Now, her mother is twice her age. How old is Ashley?

a) It's 70. You’re dividing 30 by ½, not by two. Thirty divided by ½ is the same thing as multiplying it by two, which is 60. Plus 10 makes 70!

b) Meat. He works at the butcher shop, so he weighs meat for a living.

c) Seven. The riddle says all but seven run away, meaning there are seven left who didn’t.

d) Three times. On the third time, you’ll get either a white or a blue sock to match with one of the other two you’ve already grabbed.

e) It would take 51 days. If the number of flowers doubles every day, half the garden would be full the day before, on the 51st day.

f) 888 +88 +8 +8 +8

g) Ashley is 22. Her mother is 22 years older, so when Ashley is 22, she’s now half her mother’s age.

2. Pattern problems

These questions require students to identify a pattern before they can answer a particular question. Kids must use creative and logical thinking to find the answers.

4 + 4 = 168

5 + 5 = 2510.

b) What makes this number unique: 8,549,176,320?

c) Solve the pattern puzzle below. Find the missing number to replace the question mark.

Image source: Genius Puzzles

d) Solve the following:

Image source: AOL

a) The missing number is 3612. The answer is the number multiplied by itself and then the number added to itself. Six multiplied by six is 36, and six plus six is 12.

b) It contains each one-digit number, zero through nine, listed in alphabetical order.

c) The missing number is 17. Each number in the circle is the sum of the numbers in the opposite quadrant. In this case, the numbers are eight and nine — added together makes 17.

d) The answer is 14 (or 16), if you’re on the other side of the debate .

3. Prodigy Math Game

This math activity is a bit different from others on the list. It’s not a traditional brain teaser, but it can also be used as a fun, skill-building alternative to traditional math class.

Prodigy is a game-based learning platform that takes your students on an online fantasy adventure while they answer standards-aligned math questions. It’s engaging and effective at teaching necessary skills.

Prodigy's free teacher tools help you differentiate learning, send assessments in-game and even collect student insights!

Visual brain teasers for kids

1. spot the difference.

This ever-popular activity might remind you of your own childhood — and kids still love it! Spot the difference puzzles require lots of deduction and attention to detail.

Here’s an example of a printable spot the difference activity.

Image source: Tim’s Printables

2. Rebus puzzles

A rebus is a visual word puzzle that uses lateral thinking to find its intended meaning. The word or phrase is depicted with a visual illustration, including letters and words. Students must think creatively to figure out the meaning from the clues they’re given.

Image source: Wikipedia

Image source: Stack Exchange

a) Top secret

b) Think outside the box

Visit the link below if you want more fun rebus puzzles for your students:

3. Optical illusions

Get tricky with your students! Optical illusions use visual tricks that alter the perception of what you’re really seeing. Students will love trying to figure out what’s really going on in these examples.

a) How many legs does the elephant have?

Image source: Optics For Kids

b) Are the two squares different colours?

Image source: Brain Den

b) They’re exactly the same colour. If you place your finger over the spot where the squares meet, you can see they’re the same. Try this impossible paper puzzle if you want a more hands-on optical illusion. You can make one to show your class, then have students make their own as a fun brain teaser to show friends and family.

4. Stroop effect test

The Stroop effect was discovered in the 1930s by John Ridley Stroop. During the test, you’re given a list of colour names, with each word being a different colour than what they describe.

The test involves saying the colour of a word, rather than reading the word itself. Your mind must process the two conflicting pieces of information, which slows down reaction speed and requires careful thought to get through.

Image source: The Crafty Classroom

Benefits of brain teasers for kids

You know your students enjoy them, but did you know there are plenty of additional reasons to make brain teasers a regular activity in the classroom?

A study on the attention spans of six-year-olds found children who were given brain teasers were more attentive than those who were not — showing brain teasers were effective at boosting children’s attention spans.

Brain teasers for kids can also:

Strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills
Encourage lateral thinking and build new perspectives
Improve cognitive abilities like memory and processing speed
Inspire teamwork and communication
Engage students and motivate them to learn
Provide necessary breaks from traditional class work

How to use brain teasers in the classroom

In addition to their many learning advantages, brain teasers are a great way to break up the day and engage your students. Here are just a few ways you can use brain teasers for kids as a teaching strategy and maximize the benefits in your classroom:

Engagement-boosting activity before or after lessons
Bonus questions in assignments and tests
Optional “free time” activity
Encourage team building — split students into groups to solve them together
Supplement lessons — choose brain teasers about the subject you’re teaching

Final thoughts on brain teasers for kids

No matter what subject or skill you want to focus on, a brain teaser is a great addition to traditional teaching methods. Plus, it’s something students will actually be excited to do.

Remember that brain teaser are designed to be fun for kids. it’s not about finding the right answer, but the mental exercise they get from trying to find the solution.

Use any of the brain teasers in this list whenever you need a boost of energy in your classroom. Bonus points if you can stump any adults!

Create or log in to your free teacher account on Prodigy – a game-based learning platform for math that’s easy to use for educators and students alike. Aligned with standards across the English-speaking world, it’s used by more than a million teachers and 90 million students.

Explained: Importance of critical thinking, problem-solving skills in curriculum

F uture careers are no longer about domain expertise or technical skills. Rather, critical thinking and problem-solving skills in employees are on the wish list of every big organization today. Even curriculums and pedagogies across the globe and within India are now requiring skilled workers who are able to think critically and are analytical.

The reason for this shift in perspective is very simple.

These skills provide a staunch foundation for comprehensive learning that extends beyond books or the four walls of the classroom. In a nutshell, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are a part of '21st Century Skills' that can help unlock valuable learning for life.

Over the years, the education system has been moving away from the system of rote and other conventional teaching and learning parameters.

They are aligning their curriculums to the changing scenario which is becoming more tech-driven and demands a fusion of critical skills, life skills, values, and domain expertise. There's no set formula for success.

Rather, there's a defined need for humans to be more creative, innovative, adaptive, agile, risk-taking, and have a problem-solving mindset.

In today's scenario, critical thinking and problem-solving skills have become more important because they open the human mind to multiple possibilities, solutions, and a mindset that is interdisciplinary in nature.

Therefore, many schools and educational institutions are deploying AI and immersive learning experiences via gaming, and AR-VR technologies to give a more realistic and hands-on learning experience to their students that hone these abilities and help them overcome any doubt or fear.

ADVANTAGES OF CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING IN CURRICULUM

Ability to relate to the real world: Instead of theoretical knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills encourage students to look at their immediate and extended environment through a spirit of questioning, curiosity, and learning. When the curriculum presents students with real-world problems, the learning is immense.

Confidence, agility & collaboration : Critical thinking and problem-solving skills boost self-belief and confidence as students examine, re-examine, and sometimes fail or succeed while attempting to do something.

They are able to understand where they may have gone wrong, attempt new approaches, ask their peers for feedback and even seek their opinion, work together as a team, and learn to face any challenge by responding to it.

Willingness to try new things: When problem-solving skills and critical thinking are encouraged by teachers, they set a robust foundation for young learners to experiment, think out of the box, and be more innovative and creative besides looking for new ways to upskill.

It's important to understand that merely introducing these skills into the curriculum is not enough. Schools and educational institutions must have upskilling workshops and conduct special training for teachers so as to ensure that they are skilled and familiarized with new teaching and learning techniques and new-age concepts that can be used in the classrooms via assignments and projects.

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are two of the most sought-after skills. Hence, schools should emphasise the upskilling of students as a part of the academic curriculum.

The article is authored by Dr Tassos Anastasiades, Principal- IB, Genesis Global School, Noida.

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Explained: Importance of critical thinking, problem-solving skills in curriculum

Fun Coding Lessons for Kids: Spark Creativity & Logic Skills

Lomit Patel

Best coding for kids apps: fun ways to learn programming.

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Listen up, tech-loving parents and kids who can’t get enough of the digital world! We have an adventure that’ll make your heart race and brain dance — fun coding lessons for kids. Our coding activities and lessons are so much fun that you’ll beg for extra screen time to keep learning.

Forget boring lectures and confusing jargon – we’re all about making coding activities a blast. With our interactive games, hands-on projects, and quirky characters, your kids will have so much fun that they won’t even realize they’re learning valuable skills like problem-solving, logical thinking, and creativity.

Picture this: your child, beaming with pride as they unveil their latest video game creation, robot invention, or digital masterpiece. With our coding lessons, that vision can become a reality. We’ll provide the tools and guidance; they’ll bring imagination and determination. Together, let’s embark on a thrilling journey through the world of code and coding activities!

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Why Tynker is a Game-Changer in Kids’ Coding Education

If you’re looking for fun lessons for kids and an engaging way to teach them coding, look no further than Tynker . This revolutionary platform combines story-based lessons with critical thinking and problem-solving skill development, making it a game-changer in coding education.

As a mom and teacher, I’ve witnessed Tynker’s magic firsthand. It’s like a secret recipe that blends fun and learning, keeping kids engaged and excited to discover more.

Story-Based Lessons That Engage

Tynker takes a unique approach to teaching coding basics and has tons of fun coding lessons for kids. Instead of dull, dry lessons, kids dive into engaging stories where they naturally absorb coding concepts while having a blast.

For example, in one lesson, students help a friendly robot navigate a maze by writing code to guide its movements. As they progress through the story, they learn essential concepts like loops, conditionals, and variables without even realizing it.

Fostering Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Learning to code with Tynker is only the beginning of fun coding lessons for kids. Kids also gain valuable critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that they can apply to any challenge.

Students learn to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable pieces through challenges and puzzles woven into the lessons. They also learn to think logically and systematically as they work through each step of the coding process.

Ready to give your kids a head start in coding? Tynker is shaking up the game with its groundbreaking approach to teaching the basics of programming.

The Progressive Learning Path of Tynker

Another thing I love about Tynker and its fun coding lessons for kids is how it meets kids where they are and grows with them over time. The platform offers a progressive learning path that starts with the basics and gradually introduces more advanced concepts.

Beginning with Block Coding Game

For younger learners, Tynker starts with block-based coding. This visual approach allows kids to drag and drop code blocks to create programs without worrying about syntax or typing.

Introducing kids to programming? Start with block coding. It’s a fun, intuitive way to teach the basics. As they drag and drop colorful blocks, they’ll build logical thinking and problem-solving skills that will help them learn coding and excel in more advanced coding.

Advancing to Real-World Programming Languages

Through Tynker’s carefully crafted curriculum, young learners begin their coding journey with block-based programming. As they gain confidence and skills with fun coding activities, they gradually transition to text-based programming languages like Python and JavaScript.

This is where the real magic happens when they learn coding. By learning to code in the same languages used by professional developers, kids gain practical skills that can open up a world of opportunities in the future.

And because Tynker introduces these concepts gradually and in a way that builds on what kids have already learned, the transition feels natural and manageable. Tynker notes that their platform “starts with block coding and progresses to real-world programming languages.”

Unleashing Creativity and Fun Coding Lessons for Kids Through Coding with Tynker

One of the best things about learning to code — to teach kids coding — is how it unleashes creativity and empowers kids to bring their ideas to life with fun coding activities. With Tynker, the possibilities are endless with fun coding activities.

From Game Development to AI

With Tynker, children can immerse themselves in various captivating projects and tools. Aspiring game developers can create video games, while those interested in web design can build stunning websites. Tynker even offers the chance to experiment with artificial intelligence, opening up a world of possibilities for curious young minds. And kids can start with free coding.

For example, in the game development course, students learn to use popular engines like Unity and Roblox Studio to bring their game ideas to life. In the AI course, they explore concepts like machine learning and natural language processing through hands-on projects.

Empowering Kids to Become Makers

But Tynker isn’t just about consuming content – it’s about creating it. The platform provides a large suite of creativity tools that allow kids to build projects from scratch.

Imagine a place where your child’s imagination knows no bounds. That’s exactly what Tynker offers. This innovative platform provides a comprehensive set of creativity tools that enable kids to transform their ideas into tangible realities. From coding interactive websites to composing catchy tunes and designing intricate 3D models, Tynker is the perfect launchpad for young minds to explore and express their creativity.

And by seeing their creations come to life, kids gain a sense of accomplishment and confidence that can carry over into other areas of their lives.

Tailored Assessments for Success in Coding

We know that kids absorb information in their ways. That’s why Tynker starts with personalized assessments, ensuring each child embarks on a learning journey tailored just for them.

Tynker figures out exactly what coding skills and knowledge each student brings. Then, it matches them with the perfect starting point and pace to keep them challenged and supported every step of the way. No more frustration or boredom – just the right mix of “I’ve got this.” and “Whoa, I’m learning something new.”

Tynker’s assessments aim to set kids up for coding success immediately.

The Comprehensive Coding Education Experience on Tynker

What makes Tynker genuinely unique is its all-encompassing method of teaching coding to children. By seamlessly integrating captivating lessons with practical skill-building exercises, all within a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, Tynker equips kids with everything they need to thrive in the world of programming.

Want to give your little one a serious advantage in coding? Tynker is the answer. With its cutting-edge methods and unwavering commitment to inspiring young minds, this platform is revolutionizing the way kids learn to code and their coding adventure.

Wow, what a journey! Who knew coding could be so much fun? And you can start in elementary school, middle school or high school.

Coding lessons that inspire and coding language that works. Your kids will learn to approach problems with a programmer’s mindset. Clever code, imaginative solutions, and a lot of fun – that’s what our lessons are all about!

Yet, the most incredible thing of all? The pure joy and excitement they’ve experienced every step of the way. Designing their video games from scratch? Check. Building websites that are as wacky as they are wonderful? Double check. Every project has been a memorable adventure that’s left them grinning from ear to ear.

The sky’s the limit for your budding programmers! They could develop apps, program robots to do their bidding, or even build entire virtual universes from scratch from learning a coding activity. With the rock-solid coding skills they’ve gained through these engaging lessons, no programming puzzle is too tough for them to solve.

Keep fostering that love for coding; your kid might be the next big tech superstar. Happy coding, everyone! Get started with free coding on Tynker.

About Lomit Patel

Benefits of Programming Education for Children

Best Coding for Kids Apps: Fun Ways to Learn Programming

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My coding path.

Take your child from novice to expert. Just follow the path.

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Rethinking the Confidence Conversation With Kids

Why telling your child to be more confident doesn't work and what to do instead..

Posted May 7, 2024 | Reviewed by Monica Vilhauer

Cultivating Confidence
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Your child's doubt doesn't define them. Doubt is normal; it doesn't mean that they aren't confident.
Get specific and narrow down the area of doubt rather than seeing doubt as a sign of lack of confidence.
Think growth mindset: Encourage children to ask for help and think about what they need to improve.

We all want our children to feel confident, trust themselves, override anxiety , and step out with a strong stride in life into whatever it is they are pursuing—whether giving their all in a sport, speaking up against a bully , or giving a book report. But what happens when they don’t? How we talk to our kids when that strong stride isn’t the foot they step out with may just matter more than how we praise them when things work out well.

Don’t Let Your Doubt Spill Over to Your Child

Here’s the thing: Our children’s doubt can lead us to doubt them . When we see our kids hesitate, doubt themselves, worry, or struggle, it sets off something. Something in us. A contagion of doubt. Of anxiety. Let’s call it a moment of “doubt-a-deux.” Instead of seeing your child’s self-doubt as a specific, surmountable, and very human experience, our doubt about our kid’s doubt pushes its way from the back of our mind to the front and right out our mouths. If they can’t do this, how will they ever be able to do that later? We do exactly what we tell our kids not to do. We go big, we go all or none. We blurt out the global characterization: “ You need to be more confident!” As if this moment represents all moments. The unfortunate irony is, the more that well-meaning parents say this, the faster you see whatever confidence was there drain from a child’s face. Not only are they struggling with whatever is going on in that moment, they have another, bigger problem—they apparently lack confidence!

If We Don’t Want Our Kids to Think All-or-None About Their Abilities, We Can’t Either

This came into clear focus for me recently in a session I had with a young boy struggling with OCD . I’ll call him Tommy. At 11 years old, Tommy, a bright, talented child, was plagued by doubts about micro-decisions in his day. Did he wash his hands enough? Was the expiration date OK? Was it OK to use this fork if it might have touched his phone? As is common with OCD, Tommy would turn to his parents with these questions and ask for reassurance that he was still safe despite these concerns.

Tommy, who is also a little socially anxious, did a great job talking with me through the whole session about how to handle these disruptive and unnecessary roadblocks thrown up by his OCD brain. Translating my ideas into his own terms, he said, “Oh so OCD is like that nudgy kid at school who just gets into your head saying, “Why are you doing that ? Why did you do that ? You’d be fine with what you were doing, it’s just that kid makes you question yourself.”

“Bingo,” I said.

At the end of this great session, Tommy’s dad joined us for the summary. Feeling great about his work, Tommy explained his plan to override the “doubter” part of his brain. His dad, missing the beat, said to me, “I just wish he could be more confident .” I watched the confidence that was right there in Tommy, two seconds before, drain from his face—the wind out of his sails.

Darn, oh gosh—don’t you just hate those moments?

Now I know OCD is not every child’s issue, but the lesson is the same. Doubt visits everyone and it often grabs the microphone first. But we have to be mindful of our own d oubt and fears and put them aside. Confidence and doubt aren’t in a duel to cancel each other out. They peacefully coexist; it’s just a matter of which department gets the microphone. The presence of doubt and fear doesn’t mean that other departments—curiosity, wisdom , and yes, even confidence—disappear or don’t exist, they just aren’t online… yet.

Don’t Let Doubt Define Your Child, Because It Doesn’t

Doubt and curiosity flow back and forth. They don’t have to transform into a confident person. They have what they need. They just need to see the doubt as a first draft of their ability to handle a situation. When parents tell kids they wish they were more confident, kids can feel embarrassed, judged and stuck. They become the poster child for low self-esteem . Kind of like when kids are told they’re shy . It feels like something they are stuck with and can’t change.

What do we do instead? How do we nurture confidence in moments of doubt? There are some easy fixes. Here are some ideas for what to say when your child is struggling:

Empathize with your child and normalize what’s happening: “This is hard, I can see that. It’s hard when you don’t know what to do, or aren’t sure you can. I feel that way too sometimes. Some things are hard especially at first.
Encourage your child to think in twos: “What is worry/doubt saying to you about the situation? What do you really think about it?”
Think small; get specific: “What’s the hardest part of this situation to you? What worries you the most?”
Lower the stakes, encourage asking for help when needed : Kids can not know some or all of what to do. That just means they need to find out, it doesn’t mean they've failed. You can ask: “What parts do you understand? What feels manageable? What parts don’t you know? What parts do you need help with? What do you want to try?”
Encourage self-advocacy: “ If this were working better for you, what would be happening? What do you need to get there? Ideas? Encouragement? Practice? Space?”
Be patient: Some times what looks to parents like doubt or uncertainty is really kids taking their time to gather their thoughts. (I was that kid and I am that adult.) If there is a pause, just ask—“Do you need time because you’re thinking or would you like my help?”

Your Confidence in Your Child Helps Them Find Theirs

When our children are demonstrating to us what looks like “not confidence,” we can encourage kids in a new way if we can have confidence to think according to a growth mindset and see every moment as part of a larger process of growth, rather than a halting, damaging derailment of their self-esteem. We can pin the problem on the true problem: “I can see there are a lot of doubting thoughts taking over!” or, “You’re not sure what to do and that’s OK, take your time,” or, “Is there another part of you that has an idea of how to handle this?” This helps us to create the very pathways that we want our kids to take when they are feeling unsure. We can point out those pathways, help our kids walk them, and then over time they will be paved shortcuts that kids know to take when inevitably doubt gets there first.

It would save them many rides on the “What’s wrong with me, why can’t I?” loop. And instead, their reasonableness or even-handedness in the challenging moment could actually allow them to learn and potentially perform better because they are not so stressed out thinking they have to prove themselves, or that their entire worth is riding on this very moment when it isn’t.

Recognize Your Child’s Strengths and Consult Them

All kids have areas of immediate confidence and ease. It’s wonderful to see your child who is technically inclined tackling a computer problem that you wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole, or to see your child singing on stage—belting it out—when you wouldn’t dare leave the stands. Psychologist Robert Brooks talks about how every child has “islands of competence,” but they might not value these unless we recognize them and consult their “expertise.” Knowing their strengths helps kids not forget their value when something is hard. They understand that their worth doesn’t just suddenly fall through a trap door when they struggle or even experience failure. Your child's worth is a constant through these temporary ups and down of frustration. This understanding of how confidence and abilities work builds resilience and self-esteem.

We, as parents, don’t want to promote the idea that confidence is something out there that our kids magically have to get more of. Confidence comes from within. It comes from disconnecting the links to doubt and connecting with the inner departments of wisdom, believing that it is safe to try and knowing they can mess up and learn from it, because life is a process and there’s always room to grow. That goes for parents, too. We can get better at our own doubt management , and that will help our kids do the same. Think of it as “confidence-a-deux.”

Here's to less worry and more connections to inner confidence, all around.

Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., is a psychologist dedicated to helping children, teens, and adults overcome anxiety.

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Critical Thinking Puzzles For Children

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What is critical thinking?
Continuity Critical Thinking Problems
Introduction to Critical Thinking -part 2

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How to Teach Your Child to Be a Critical Thinker
Why Critical Thinking Skills Are Important . According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which evaluated 15-year-old children in 44 different countries, more than one in six students in the United States are unable to solve critical thinking problems.
Critical Thinking Skills for Kids (& How to Teach Them)
Debates. This is one of those classic critical thinking activities that really prepares kids for the real world. Assign a topic (or let them choose one). Then give kids time to do some research to find good sources that support their point of view. Finally, let the debate begin!
Critical Thinking: 11 Problem Solving Activities for Kids
The absence of critical thinking and conflict resolution skills can also lead to negative, and often impulsive behavior. Teaching kids proper problem solving skills helps boost their self-esteem and self-confidence, helps them become more independent, and has a positive impact on their mental health. 6 Problem Solving Strategies for Kids
23 Activities to Develop Critical Thinking Skills in Children
Play Sudoku: Sudoku is a logic-based game that requires critical thinking skills. It requires children to think logically and use deductive reasoning to solve a problem. Sudoku puzzles can be found in many newspapers and online. Conduct Research: Encourage children to conduct research on a topic that interests them.
How to Develop Critical Thinking Skills in Your Kids [in a fun way that
Here are three examples: ‍. If your child did the multiplication 6 x 9 to get 54 that would NOT be critical thinking. ️But if they then explained to you all the other ways they could get the number 54, then it could be. If your child memorised the lyrics to their favourite song that would NOT be critical thinking.
Critical thinking is a 21st-century essential
This is about teaching them to think for themselves. Your role is to direct their questions, listen and respond. Meanwhile, your kids "have to think about how they're going to put this into digestible pieces for you to understand it," says Oshiro. "It's a great way to consolidate learning.". Critical thinking isn't just for the ...
Critical Thinking Games & Activities for Kids
2. Play Sorting Games. Critical skills include the reasoning ability to solve real-life problems. And, of course, one of the great ways to support children's reasoning and classification skills is sorting games that also function as strategy games for kids.. This activity will help children see the differences among various groups and enhance their understanding of the objects.
Critical Thinking for Kids: Activities, Games and Books
1. More-igami. This is a lovely book to introduce critical thinking to kids in the most matter-of-factly way! Your kids wouldn't even realise the skills they are picking up while reading this heartwarming story of a boy, who has discovered the joy of origami and is ready to dive deep into the art of paper folding. 2.
Critical thinking is a 21st-century essential
This is about teaching them to think for themselves. Your role is to direct their questions, listen and respond. Meanwhile, your kids "have to think about how they're going to put this into digestible pieces for you to understand it," says Oshiro. "It's a great way to consolidate learning.". Critical thinking isn't just for the ...
10 Awesome Tips for Teaching Critical Thinking Skills
Getting students to dig deeper and answer questions using higher-level thinking can be a challenge. Here are our favorite tips for teaching critical thinking skills, adapted from Mentoring Minds' Critical Thinking Strategies Guide, that help kids solve problems by going beyond the obvious response. 1. Slow down the pace.
PDF 81 Critical (1-60
Encourage divergent thinking. 5. Observe children as they work in order monitor their problem-solving skills. 6. Give helpful hints to those children who are having difficulty finding ways to approach the problem. 7. Guide children to link the problem to others they have already solved. 8. Encourage children to check their work. 9. Help ...
PDF The Miniature Guide Critical Thinking for Children
1) decide that you want to be good at thinking. 2) practice using the ideas in this book everyday. Critical thinkers think about their thinking. They look for problems in their thinking. They practice thinking just like players practice basketball or baseball. I hope you decide to be a critical thinker.
44 Powerful Problem Solving Activities for Kids
By honing their problem-solving abilities, we're preparing kids to face the unforeseen challenges of the world outside. Enhances Cognitive Growth: Otherwise known as cognitive development. Problem-solving isn't just about finding solutions. It's about thinking critically, analyzing situations, and making decisions.
6 Ways to Teach Critical Thinking
How to develop critical thinking. To develop critical thinking, here are 10 ways to practice. Ask probing questions: Ask "why", "how", "what if" to deeply understand issues and reveal assumptions. Examine evidence objectively: Analyze information's relevance, credibility, and adequacy. Consider different viewpoints: Think through ...
85 Fun Critical Thinking Questions for Kids & Teens
Humor is a natural icebreaker that can make critical thinking questions more lighthearted and enjoyable. Of course, most younger kids just like to be silly, so playing upon that can keep them active and engaged. With that said, here are some great questions to get you started: 1. Someone gives you a penguin.
Critical Thinking Problems for Kids
Critical thinking is an approach to thought development that goes beyond surface learning, memorizing, and regurgitating facts. Critical thinking can mean analyzing things deeply. It often means ...
85 Critical Thinking Worksheets That Are Fun For Kids
85 Critical Thinking Worksheets That Are Fun For Kids. In this article you can find Critical Thinking Worksheets For Kids on logics, planning, problem-solving, decision-making and creative thinking. Mathematics is all about patterns and critical thinking. You may be surprised to find that at least one pattern exists in whatever the concept may ...
Critikid
Children can do activities to develop their critical thinking skills even before they can talk. A toy that lights up when a button is pressed teaches cause and effect, peek-a-boo teaches object permanence, and nesting toys help develop problem-solving skills. Once kids can talk, they can start to do simple experiments.
Activities for Your Child That Teach Critical Thinking
2. Solve puzzles together. Puzzles are proven to be a great activity for children to build their neurons up. Whether it is Monopoly, tic tac toe, connect 4, jigsaw puzzles, snakes and ladder, and many others, your child will actively be building their critical thinking skills by playing these games. Through puzzles and brain teasers, your child ...
Critical Thinking Skills and Examples for Kids
In this video, you and your kids can follow along as we figure out a problem using critical thinking skills. Critical thinking relies on several factors—such...
Using Critical Thinking in Essays and other Assignments
Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement. Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process ...
45 Fun and Clever Brain Teasers for Kids with Answers!
3. Lateral thinking problems. Lateral thinking problems require creative thinking with an indirect approach. These questions require logic and careful thought to solve. The most notable example of a lateral thinking problem is the classic Monty Hall problem. Here are two examples of lateral thinking problems kids can try to solve. a) The river ...
Explained: Importance of critical thinking, problem-solving skills in
In a nutshell, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are a part of '21st Century Skills' that can help unlock valuable learning for life. Over the years, the education system has been ...
Fun Coding Lessons for Kids: Spark Creativity & Logic Skills
Learning to code with Tynker is only the beginning of fun coding lessons for kids. Kids also gain valuable critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that they can apply to any challenge. Students learn to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable pieces through challenges and puzzles woven into the lessons.
Rethinking the Confidence Conversation With Kids
Key points. Your child's doubt doesn't define them. Doubt is normal; it doesn't mean that they aren't confident. Get specific and narrow down the area of doubt rather than seeing doubt as a sign ...

How to Teach Your Child to Be a Critical Thinker

What Is Critical Thinking?

Benefits of Critical Thinking Skills

Why Critical Thinking Skills Are Important

Amy Morin, LCSW

How to Teach Kids to Be Critical Thinkers

Be a Good Role Model

Play With Them

Teach Them to Solve Problems

Encourage Them to Ask Questions

Practice Making Choices

Encourage Open-Mindedness

A Word From Verywell

23 Activities to Develop Critical Thinking Skills in Children

What is critical thinking skills?

Importance of developing critical thinking skills in children

Activities to develop critical thinking skills in children

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How to Develop Critical Thinking Skills in Your Kids [in a fun way that won’t feel like learning!]

What is critical thinking?

Why is critical thinking important?

1. The world is changing fast.

2. We need better filters

3. Schools can't do enough

What parents need to do at home

Critical thinking frameworks to teach your child

1. Think about pros and cons 👍 👎

2. Ask what would X say? 💬

3. Put on different thinking hats 🎩

4. Use thinking moves 🔤

An example of excellent critical thinking

What is the best age to start?

10 free critical thinking questions for kids

Does the KidCoachApp really work?

‍ What shall I do next?

Kavin Wadhar

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Critical thinking is a 21st-century essential — here’s how to help kids learn it

If we want children to thrive in our complicated world, we need to teach them how to think, says educator Brian Oshiro. And we can do it with 4 simple questions.

1. Go beyond “what?” — and ask “how?” and “why?”

2. Follow it up with “How do you know this?”

3. Prompt them to think about how their perspective may differ from other people’s.

4. Finally, ask them how to solve this problem.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Critical thinking is a 21st-century essential — here’s how to help kids learn it

If we want children to thrive in our complicated world, we need to teach them how to think, says educator Brian Oshiro. And we can do it with 4 simple questions.

1. Go beyond “what?” — and ask “how?” and “why?”

2. Follow it up with “How do you know this?”

3. Prompt them to think about how their perspective may differ from other people’s.

4. Finally, ask them how to solve this problem.

About the author

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10 Tips for Teaching Kids To Be Awesome Critical Thinkers

1. Slow down the pace.

2. Pose a Question of the Day.

3. Make a response box.

4. Take a side.

5. Ask “why?” five times.

6. Role-play.

7. Go “hitchhiking.”