A valid option to develop critical thinking skills is to play thinking games. The preschool years are the time to stimulate your children with fun games and activities that will expand their imagination and ability to think critically.
It may seem like fun now, but the effects of these types of games will last forever in your children's minds. Children will not magically develop thinking skills in elementary school. They make up most of these skills in the preschool years. Do not miss these thinking games that are traditional games without a screen that are they can play with children anywhere and without preparation.
What is critical thinking
Before giving way to the games, it is always a good idea to know what it is that we are really going to learn and develop in equal parts. Therefore, we mention that critical thinking can have different definitions. But It is what leads us to evaluate and also to analyze both the thoughts and the different situations that occur throughout each day.. Hence, broadly speaking, it also encompasses the desire to learn, doubting to be able to take the best step, studying each movement and making the brain always in motion. Hence, if we can enjoy all of this as games and at an early age, it will be good news. Because it will be possible to develop the abilities of our mind and body, in a faster and more precise way. Whichever way you look at it, it's really essential!
What are its great benefits?
Well, to be able to analyze each action much better through critical thinking, one of the great advantages is helping us to discard bad ideas or those that do not lead us to any purpose and to distinguish those that are valid. More alternatives appear and with them you can improve communication as well as the way of thinking. So if we want to highlight the benefits of critical thinking, it is clear that it will help us to act accordingly with our choices. Since we can say that this thought is something that is linked to reason. That is why it is so important that it be acquired at a very early age.
The purpose of having critical thinking
They will begin to analyze the arguments in ways that are much stronger. Because they will know how to recognize which ones are of more interest or which ones are the opposite. Of course, at the same time they will also be able to develop more imagination and intuition in equal parts. Something that is really good throughout its growth. They will be able to realize mistakes and learn from them. Finally, they will be able to reflect on the ideas they have in mind, to get the most out of them.
The most relevant critical thinking games
I spy
It can be played in many ways, for example, spying on objects based on initial sounds (teaching letters) or colors (color recognition). To test your child's thinking, play this game using descriptive clues that do not involve sounds or colors. Example:
- I spy with my little eye something that is smooth, round and can be thrown.
- I spy with my little eye something that grows, is smooth and is in the trees.
This game is a version of the traditional "I see-I see", which is also great to play!
Build a story
This game is about creative thinking and language development. Start by making up a story:
Once upon a time there was a little gray cat.
- A child then adds a sentence to the story, thus changing the direction of the story:
The little gray cat got lost in the woods.
- Then add a sentence and the story continues:
Suddenly, he heard a whisper behind him and froze.
This game usually ends in laughs and a ridiculous story, but uses a lot of brain power and imagination.
Rhyming game
Play this rhyming game by challenging your child to think of words that rhyme with an easy word like cat or rag. This game is ideal for developing auditory perception. You can say a sentence like "I have a ..." or "I see a ..." and add a simple word like cat. Then your child responds with the same sentence using an appropriate rhyming word and then you continue the game until the words are over together.
Take care of the egg: critical thinking game
Problem solving is something basic that should be dealt with from childhood. It is a way to be able to think about them and to be creative. How can they do it? Well, it's very simple: with an egg. Yes, a fresh egg that shouldn't be broken for the world, but you need it to come down from quite a height. So, the students must think about how to achieve it.
- Is it by placing something padded on the floor?
- Perhaps, building some passageway to reach the destination?
A path of obstacles
When we have our eyes closed, alone we must let ourselves be guided by our instinct and by trust that we deposit in the companions. So, this activity will be conducive to it and much more. It's about making teams, to make it even more fun. Once done, we have to trace a path with various types of obstacles. It is the moment for the first participant to blindfold himself and manage to cross said path but only by following the instructions that he listens to. Hence, both trust and communication and patience are usually the crucial drivers.
survive paradise
Imagine you are on a desert island. A priori it seems like a paradise, until you realize that there is no one else but you, yes it is literally deserted. Now it is time for the little ones to make a list with everything we may need to get out of there or the techniques they would use. That is to say, not only as tools but constructions or steps to take in order to be able to escape from confinement.
solve the mystery
It is not complicated, although everything that carries some mystery can turn out to be the opposite. In this case, it is also preferable that there is a group of colleagues to make it more enjoyable. Each member will be given a clue and together, they must organize themselves, put them in order and solve the mystery. For example, the disappearance of an object or that restless pet. To make this critical thinking game even more interesting, you can leave clues in different places or corners where that object was or where the pet used to go.
Now you know a little more about why it is necessary to develop this skill and several examples to put them into practice. What are you waiting for?