Pakistan's educational system is notorious for not fostering critical thinking in children. Rote memorization of facts is emphasized over really thinking about the information presented. Discussion and debate in class are minimal and students don't really get a chance to talk about and think through ideas.

While this is not completely the case in America, a number of educators have also been critical of the American system for doing the same thing, albeit on a lesser level.

Give this state of affairs, it is necessary for parents to encourage their children to become critical thinkers, so that they can properly understand the world around them, as well as use information properly, instead of just keeping facts and figures in their heads without applying them in the real world.

Here are some tips:

1. Encourage questions

How many of us have brushed off questions our children have asked us about mundane things?

We may be caught in the middle of a conversation, reading the newspaper or watching television and not want to be disturbed. While this is understandable, it does nothing to help develop a child's critical thinking skills.

Question-and-answer interaction is one of the key ingredients in the development of critical thinking. This is why we must do our best to answer our children's questions to the best of our abilities.

If we are doing something and don't want to be interrupted, the best way to deal with this is to gently tell our child that we will answer their question later and then follow-up. It would be a good idea to ask at this point what the question is, write it down, and then address it later if the child forgets.

2. Encourage kids to think things through

In today's fast-paced culture, we often find ourselves rushing to make decisions and say things without thinking through. This hasty attitude may work in situations involving adults, who have more life experience, but it is a failure for kids.

We must encourage our kids to think things through before giving an answer to things. For instance, one way we can inculcate this quality is by presenting two choices and asking them to select one. You can, for example, ask: do you want to go to the baseball game next Saturday or the zoo? Then ask them to list the pros and cons of each, how both experiences will benefit them educationally and otherwise, and then reach a conclusion.

3. Teach kids to look at the bigger picture

Encourage kids to look at issues in a larger context, instead of relying on only one source for information. This is particularly useful when it comes to current events. Make sure to encourage them to, for example, consult different newspaper, magazines and news websites when looking for information about a specific topic or reading coverage of a specific incident. This will not only hone their research skills, it will also help them see how sources of information are more often than not "objective".

4 . Discuss current events at the dinner table with an atlas or globe

While a number of families do sit together and discuss the day's events together at the dinner table, the conversation rarely goes beyond talking. Take the opportunity to explain things to all family members young and old and make sure everybody knows which part of the world the events being discussed are taking place in. Keep an atlas or globe near the dinner table so you can easily show everyone where, for instance, Afghanistan is, its major cities, as well as where the latest news is emanating from.

5. Encourage them to participate in personal or joint research projects with you

There will be times when of course, you won't know the answer to one of your kids' questions. In this case, don't make something up. Admit that you don't know and spend a weekend afternoon in your personal or the local library researching the answer. Not only will your child learn the importance of research, they will also understand the importance of seeking knowledge when one doesn't know something, based on the example you are setting for them by seeking the answer to their question.

6. Emphasize the importance of being careful

Stress the need for kids to be truthful and careful about the information they read about or find. Help them learn how to check their facts and be precise in their statements. This is very crucial since relying on most media, for instance, when trying to understand current events, requires a mind that is conscious of truthfulness and accuracy where a number of journalists slip in these areas on some occasions.

7. Help them understand the consequences of action

Kids need to be encouraged to consider different choices and the consequences of each of these. This will help them develop the ability to carefully think things through instead of rushing into decisions.

For instance, should Pakistan spend more money towards education or poverty alleviation (that's for the older kids)? Or should Pakistani kids spend more time learning math or English?

8. Help them understand the reasons behind their actions

Challenge them to give reasons for what they say and believe based on evidence, logic, and implications, for all choices

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/18/2002 8:07:48 AM

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