This morning while I was in the shower and thinking about today's blog (Do you do your best thinking in the shower?) I got to thinking about how serious this topic has felt to me. So with that in mind, let's look at ways to make this more fun. Traditionally, when teachers are developing critical thinking skills they read a story and then ask the children to tell what they think will happen next. You can certainly do this with your younger children and Memory games and things like that are a good way to work on this. With older kids there are many games that can be played as a family the develop critical thinking skills. You don't have to teach all your children to play chess but any game that is not just based on luck or the deal of the cards will help.
Since it is important to have some family time this is a good way to sort of kill 2 birds with one stone. (What a terrible analogy.) With much older teens this may be difficult to start if it is not your family pattern. However, since sometimes it is difficult for teens to sit down and have conversations with parents or the entire family this is a easier way to be together. Find games that may interest your teens. It depends upon their interests. My kids have always liked to play cards so we would play Spades, and Pinocchio; things they liked. I tried to interest them in bridge but not luck there. We also played Battleship and then they played Risk. Even jig saw puzzles on a cold winter day are good.
So have fun with your kids and try some new things. Don't get connected to just one certain game. Find one the entire family enjoys playing. They don't have to know they are developing better critical thinking skills. Sherri
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