Tip Tuesday
Help Your Teen Develop Thinking Skills
To gather the best information about something, students need to tap into their thinking skills.
Critical thinking helps students to do research, make decisions and solve problems. When your teen expresses an opinion, stimulate deeper, more analytical thinking by asking why he feels that way. If you disagree, challenge him to come up with information you might not have considered.
Our senses are our first tools for finding out about something. We can see it, hear it, touch it, taste it or smell it to get an idea about what it is. But if we want the best information, we must also use another tool—thinking skills.
Critical thinking allows students to do research. It helps them make decisions. And teens certainly need it to solve problems. Sharp thinking skills will improve your teen’s chances of success in school and in life.
Here are some ways to stimulate your teen to deeper, more analytical thinking:
- When your teen gives an opinion, don’t just nod. Ask why he feels that way.
- Occasionally give your teen the chance to change your mind. Challenge him to come up with information you might not have considered at first.
- When watching TV or movies, talk with your teen about whether the plot made sense. Why or why not? What does he think would have improved the show?
Source: The Parent Institute
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