3 Ways to Promote Independent Thinking

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”

 

Empowering children to think independently is pivotal to setting them up for success. By encouraging problem-solving and inspiring idea generation, we can equip kids with opportunities to develop critical thinking skills that will serve them now and in real-life scenarios. 

Specifically, nurturing children’s independence not only helps them develop essential life lessons such as self-sufficiency and accountability but also equips them with the tools they need to achieve success in their middle school studies and later in life.

Mainly, it is paramount to foster independent thinking in children, both at school and beyond. As such, investing time in educating on how to think outside the box and develop their own original solutions can be beneficial in the long term.

Here are three ways to promote independent thinking in elementary school, middle school, and beyond:

 

Empower Individual Thought 

Providing kids with multiple chances to think autonomously every day is key. This can be done through open-ended questions and opportunities for discussion. Empowering individual thought can help children practice creative and thoughtful responses. Additionally, not only do these inquiries promote independent thinking abilities, but they also foster divergent and evaluative replies too!

 

Provide Independent Decision-Making Opportunities 

 Allow your child to experience the power of decision-making. This can be done daily by letting them make independent choices. For example, they can pick out their day’s outfit and what they desire for breakfast. Assigning some options can undoubtedly lead to more independent thinking in children, they will have to ponder every choice before settling on one.

 

Inspire Children to Explore the Unknown

Nurturing your child’s interests is vital. Let them explore various activities and learn about their likes and dislikes. At Beth Emet School, we recognize the importance of teaching our children to become independent thinkers. Therefore, it is essential for us to foster a learning environment that allows them to feel safe while exploring new opportunities for growth. 

Learn more about enrichment program opportunities at Beth Emet School. From Archery and Robotics to Edible Science and Fitness, there is something for everyone.