1. Ask Questions Instead of Providing Answers

Children are curious by nature and love asking questions about everything and anything around them. Why is the sky blue? Why are the clouds look like they are moving? What does my crayon fall to the ground? Why, daddy? Why, mummy?

Instead of providing answers to their plethora of questions and in turn unintentionally prescribing your views and opinions onto your child, you may just want to turn the question back to them and get them thinking: “What do you think?” As young children see the world differently, they may have their own creative opinions; yes, even your toddlers! Sometimes, you may get funny or impossible answers, but you are helping them to make sense of the world on their own, and are also simultaneously opening the doors for deeper investigation and discussions!

2. Challenge Their Perspectives

Whenever children tell you a piece of new information, rather than take it as face-value, you may just want to challenge their perspectives or views. For instance, when your child tells you that “You shouldn’t go out when it rains”, you could challenge them by asking, “How do you know?” or point out that people are walking downstairs as you look out the window on a rainy day. Sometimes, these statements are picked up by their caretakers, and challenging them encourages them to think and research on their own.

Furthermore, you could also prompt them to think about how that perspective may be different from another person. For example, a person who doesn’t have an umbrella or raincoat may not want to go out when it rains, but if you have an umbrella or raincoat that keeps you dry, you can head out of the house! This teaches young children that there are conditions to which a statement may or may not be true.

3. Provide Opportunities For Play

Your little ones learn the most through play and by testing how things work through trial and error, it helps them to develop critical thinking. Play helps children explore cause and effect and encourages curiosity as they learn how to play and how things work.

For instance, children will need to problem-solve as they find out how to get the figurine to balance on top of the tower, or to observe why a spoon drops faster than a piece of fluff.

Read more – Let Children Learn Through Play: 8 Play-Based Learning Activities

4. Don’t Solve All of Their Problems

It also helps that daddy and mummy don’t come to their rescue ALL of the time! Some children cry and give up when things don’t go their way. Crying helps alert their caregivers and signals for help. While adults do need to assist with the big problems that children face, for little situations, children are capable of solving it on their own.