Logical or critical thinking is arguably the most important skill for anyone to have. Logic also pays dividends for kids who learn it early, as it will help them in their career prospects and give them greater problem-solving skills forever. However, kids aren’t always the keenest to learn logical thinking skills without good reason. Therefore, let’s break down five appealing methods you can use to sharpen kids’ logical thinking skills whether you’re a parent or a teacher.
Programming Games
For starters, parents and teachers can sharpen their kids’ logical thinking skills by teaching them programming through games. Programming games are becoming more popular each day and for good reason. They’re not only fun for kids and their classmates, but they can also prepare kids for a marketplace increasingly dominated by coding professions.
In other words, activities like Scratch programming for kids can go a long way to boost kids’ critical thinking and prepare them for the adult workforce at the same time.
Puzzles and Traditional Logic Games
However, games based in the real world rather than the digital world can also be great for teaching kids about logic. Puzzles and brainteaser games are great resources for family or classroom fun and can be leveraged to ensure that a child learns to develop their critical thinking as well as their creativity.
Puzzles are especially good for smart kids that struggle with boredom, who often find that traditional activities or play are not mentally stimulating enough for their tastes.
Mystery Stories and Media
Parents and teachers can further leverage media to sharpen their kids’ logical and critical thinking skills. One of the best ways to do this is to present kids with mystery stories and media, such as mystery-driven books or television shows.
Granted, parents and teachers must be careful about the types of media expose their kids to. But there’s no doubt that kids who learn to love the mystery story will also likely have a fondness for logic and rational thinking as they get older. Sherlock Holmes remains a favorite character for logical kids and adults alike for a reason!
Teach New Skills
More broadly, parents and teachers can boost kids’ logical thinking by teaching them new skills regularly. In the process of learning a new skill, kids must go through trial and error and logically determine the best way to accomplish certain tasks or memorize various motor skills.
This is a good practice in general since kids are well-equipped to learn many new skills while they’re young. Languages, the basics of web design, and other practical skills are particularly good choices for kids who need to learn more about logic.
Teach Mindfulness
One last trick to try is teaching mindfulness or meditation. While kids don’t have the patience or control to truly practice adult meditation, mindfulness as a concept and basic life skill can be taught as early as age four or so. Mindfulness can help with logic by teaching kids how to clear their minds and eliminate distractions.
All in all, logic is one of the most important skills that parents or teachers can give their children. Remember to try the above five methods if you want to ensure that your kid has a leg up in life!
