Strategies to Enhance Critical and Creative Thinking Skills in Kids

In today's time, when the world is full of information, creativity and critical thinking are the areas where a significant compromise can be seen. Due to the emergence of AI, the way we think, our perception, and our judgment have become a part of algorithms and analysis. Our life choices have become part of databases & high programming analysis. Decisions taken in today's time impact the quality of life. When we develop critical & creative thinking skills, we clearly understand the problem and look for practical or innovative solutions to deal with it. Hence, teaching children creative and critical thinking skills becomes crucial so they can capably plan and avoid unnecessary problems. The children when they make decisions independently, that further enables them to attain their goals.

Before passing on information to children, adults/parents must comprehend the distinction between Critical and Creative thinking skills.

Let’s understand Critical Thinking Skills

What are critical thinking skills?

Critical thinking is a reasonable and reflective way of assessing any problem skillfully and reasonably. When critical thinking skills are developed, we can move from simply disagreeing to constructively evaluating alternatives without harbouring doubts. It allows us to be able to reason logically. In the present digital era, when information and misinformation are available in large volumes, developed critical thinking skills aid in analyzing and assessing the information.

Let’s understand Creative Thinking Skills

Our creative thinking skills don't limit us to following creative ideas invented by others but even prompt us to think differently. We have heard the idiom that thinking "out of the box" and having creative thinking skills will enable us to think differently. All creative people find new ways to solve problems.

Creative thinking skills are not confined to only artistic people.

It is a skill that anyone can nurture at any given age.

Characteristics of Creative and Critical Thinking

Critical thinkers are inquisitive. They bring about curiosity in the mind and keep the mind active. They are not passive thinkers and do find possible solutions easily.

Creative thinkers are always active, curious, and agile. They constructively bring innovations and inventions.

How do we implement global skills to young global learners?

To build a global mindset amongst students is the need of the hour. Creativity, knowledge, and skills are the most demanded global skills. On the worldwide platform, when the young learners team up, these skills help contribute to a well-structured society.

Enhance critical & creative thinking with 5W's & H

Every student should handle any situation, issue, or concern, keeping the 5W's & H in mind. It will help them to systematically & consciously process the matter/ problem so that they can make the best decisions logically or find the next possible solution. It will encourage them to properly distinguish various aspects and issues and analyse all the areas.

What is the main issue?
Who incited it?
Why has it occurred?
When did it come to notice?
How should it be resolved in the best possible manner?

How do these strategies of Critical and Creative Thinking benefit students?

We live in a highly complex, globalized & digitalized era. Fostering creative & critical thinking will allow students to think about themselves and work as team members. In the fast-paced digital era, finding experimental solutions, alternatives, and distinct progress is in high demand.

The transformation of ideas occurs when students learn to acknowledge their & others' limitations and discover productive solutions.
The developed skills make students independent thinkers who can confidently share their opinions.
These aptitudes signal students to do more than just remember the knowledge.
The acquired skills allow them to achieve better marks.
Through self-discovery & exploration, students remain less dependent on extrinsic factors like taking help from books or teachers.
It helps them create a knowledge bank.
As per their developed skills, the children can evaluate, challenge and change the systems in society.

Commonalities between Creative & Critical Thinking skills

Creative and critical thinking skills promote mental wellness along with social welfare. Receptiveness & interest ignites the development of creative & critical thinking. The four main shared elements are imagining, inquiry, doing and reflection. Creative and critical thinking are built on technical skills and have subject-specific domain knowledge. One cannot create or critically analyse without knowledge of the domain. Creative thinking is imaginative, whereas critical thinking is inquisitive.

Let’s encourage Creative and Critical thinking in students

Encourage Project-Based learning: Engaging, discovering, applying diverse knowledge, and seeking a possible solution for a problem are the main components of PBL.
Freedom to learn: A favourable learning environment allows students to facilitate a free flow of learning. Self-discovery, time, and space to explore new information give a child a sense of achievement. This further prepares him/her to take on challenges.
Connect stories to the concept: From generation to generation, our society has passed on stories. Connecting with the story characters at the emotional level and questioning their actions instils higher-order thinking skills amongst students.
Analyze and Assess ideas: When a new idea or point of view is proposed, it gives a chance to students to do self-analysis & assessment to evaluate the outcomes.
Go beyond academic learning: A child's personality and essential characteristics are developed when he/she participates in activities beyond the realm of academic education. When a student can connect & relate with experiences emotionally regarding past & present situations, it stimulates social & emotional development.
Practice active learning: Students actively learn and interact with different people, ideas, and opinions. The diverse learning environment & surroundings further accommodate gaining new insights & knowledge.
Participate in discussions: Encouraging students to participate in scholarly activities, conversations and involves them as engaged citizens of a democratic society.
Practice reflection: Encouraging children to reflect on their thoughts and opinions to look for alternate viewpoints. With the developed self-awareness, a child realizes the impact of his/her decision.

How to develop creative thinking skills?

After understanding what critical thinks skills, we can reinforce imagination, problem-solving, creativity and reasoning through the play way method.

Believing & Doubting statement – Increases sympathy & scepticism
Drawing lines without lifting the pen – Increases creative & analytical skills
Bad ideas regarding a product- Increases critical thinking
Repurpose an item- Creative thinking
Creating new words – Creative thinking
Describing a picture only with adjectives – Stimulates Observation
Use of newspaper headlines to create poetry – Creativity
What if ?- Initiates critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Negative/Reverse brainstorming- To understand how an idea can fail
Writing sentences in different shapes- Imagination

Top 5 Creative Writing Courses

A creative mind conveys a distinct voice in his narration, and that satisfies their passion and fosters imagination and creative ideas.

I have enrolled for at least three courses, as mentioned above. I was highly benefitted by these courses as I learnt the various nuances related to writing skills. I became confident in no time and started showcasing my passion for writing on social media platforms. I polished & refined my writing skills as I feel passionate about writing.

Creative Thinking Courses

Udemy, Coursera, Bambinos, Skillshare, Domestika, and Creativelive are genuine platforms to improve your creative thinking skills. These platforms offer a plethora of free & paid courses. As per the interest, one can navigate through the different courses that facilitate enhancing skills & developing the niche.

Top 5 Creative Writing Courses for Kids

FAQ

Q. 1 Is critical thinking a skill for life?

Critical thinking abilities stay with us permanently. They remain active when we apply them daily in our personal & professional lives.

Q. 2 What are the indicators of a creative mind?

They are energetic, focused, intelligent, naïve, realistic and imaginative.

Q. 3 Does critical thinking help in professional life?

It is an important life skill that is highly valued & demanded in professional life. While working as a team member decision-making and problem-solving skills come in handy to get better outcomes.

Q.4 What kind of creative tasks can one do in everyday life?

Composing a poem, designing a gift, creating riddles, promoting sustainable products or items, recycling waste products for reuse etc.

In Bambinos we focus on developing higher-order skills amongst young learners. The learning is stimulated through games, activities, and events. In the YCP program, we create situational-based experiences to nurture critical & creative thinking abilities by introducing different thinking tools to the learners. In YCW, we engage learners to beautify their writing skills creatively with diverse activities.

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Article Author

Karuna Sinh

Karuna Sinh competent professional with over 20 years of experience in sectors ranging from Teaching, Hospitality, Freelancing content writing, Administration & Management.

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