Now is the era of the internet – a very different environment than the one we parents, educators, and caregivers grew up in. Information is readily available at your fingertips, and most importantly, children have access to it.
As part of this gamified platform, we have had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of children, especially those with neurodiverse needs.
Truth be told, ages 4 to 10 are a critical zone for ADHD or PDA kids. It is their learning phase; they are highly curious, and the information perceived remains. However, the credibility of each piece of information is barely tested. However, how will we know that they are learning the right things?
As their parents and caregivers, it is our duty to ensure their curiosity is met with accurate information. We must focus on information that fosters their critical thinking skills and builds a narrative towards worldly aspects.
So, how to teach critical thinking to kids?
Study suggests that critical thinking begins with active problem solvers. In this comprehensive article, we will explore how to develop critical thinking lessons for children at home through problem-solving and self-exploration activities.
How to Teach Critical Thinking to Kids with Neurodiversity and Why It Matters?
It is first vital to comprehend how your neurodiverse child’s brain functions. Now, neurodiverity encompasses a range of conditions. Your child might be struggling with with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), OCD, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), or deep-rooted behavioral issues.
The first step is recognizing their spectrum to offer the ideal guidance – both at school and home. While it saddens the heart of a parent to learn that their child is neurodivergent, there is nothing negative about it.
Neurodivergent children perceive and experience the world differently. They interact differently and have strong imaginative capabilities. Hence, it is difficult for them to focus and make the most out of opportunities. They tend to avoid following rules and commands, as well as engaging in public interactions. They exhibit moments of losing emotional control or a lack of flexibility in their thought process.
As a parent, transforming them into critical thinkers makes them capable problem solvers, better learners, and confident individuals.
Steps to Cultivating Critical Thinking and Teaching Neurodiverse Children at Home
Cultivating critical thinking and creative abilities in neurodivergent children can be challenging in the beginning. It is making them aware of their environment and helping them grow, irrespective of adversity, through problem-solving.
These are qualities children with ADHD, anxiety, and PDA do not inherently possess. So, the process of teaching them how to overcome emotions and embrace creativity begins with kindness.
Remember, they cannot be rushed into building a skill. These young minds have extraordinary potential. Hence, their abstract nature must be allowed to grow in a safe space.
1. Understand the Situation at Hand
As already mentioned, neurodiversity is a broad spectrum. So, it can be ADHD, PDA, behavioral concerns, or anxiety. And there is no one-size-fits-all method to teaching them critical thinking skills.
- The first step is understanding their needs and not depending on conventional teaching methods. These kids have unique conceptual thinking skills and cognitive processes.
- As a parent, our stance is encouraging their skillset based on their needs. Creative encouragement begins in many ways – through fun games and play, mindfulness activities, painting, and singing.
- It all comes down to your child’s temperament and needs. For example, some children cope with emotional turbulence through painting. They tend to calm themselves while filling the pages with color.
Each is unique, and it is our responsibility to understand and provide the ideal space.
2. A Safe Space is Non-Negotiable
A safe learning space is a must for every learner to thrive, neurodiversity or not. However, what does a safe space truly mean?
In our therapeutic field, we refer to it as pathological safety. It is about being comfortable in a space and truly being oneself, without the fear of judgment.
- As a parent, it can be challenging to set up psychological safety in one go. As kids slowly learn to develop their skills, parents tend to lose patience. They sometimes make rash statements, become harsh, and lose patience when they are taking longer than the internet suggests.
- There is no specific time or deadline within which your child will master everything critical. Each child is unique, and so is their learning speed and ability to grasp and retain knowledge.
- Encourage them to be themselves – let them ask questions, understand their perspective, and teach them that failure is an opportunity.
- Change how you answer their queries. Instead of saying, “I don’t have the time to answer your question,” say, “I will tell you; could you wait until I am done with my work?”
- Remember, kindness and raising a neurodivergent child go hand-in-hand. The space you will provide will be their room for expansion.
3. Information Literacy is Crucial
As you teach your child the ideal critical capabilities, they also have access to the internet. In a different age, this would have worked very differently.
However, shunning access is not helpful. The moment you take away internet access from your neurodivergent kid, they will tend to become defensive. So, instead of taking away these sources, teach them which the right sources are.
- Begin by introducing them to credible information and teaching them how to identify it. The present online forum has varied forms of content coming from varied sources. Be mindful of what they are watching, engaging with, or interacting with.
- Take it a step further and become part of their online engagement. Be willing to learn what they prefer online – is it a cartoon show? Is it some activity? Articles, memes, ads, videos – everything is content. However, distinction begins with good or bad. Take another step to explain the content, allowing them to analyze what is good and what is not.
- Promote a screen time window. That way, you are not commanding them to stay away from a digital zone. Instead, you are creating a healthy schedule for them to interact with information online.
Kids with ADHD, PDA, or behavioral issues thrive in routine. However, it must not be forced upon them, but rather aligned with their existing one.
4. Perspective Creation Helps
Each home has a culture; it is inherent, strongly practiced, and exceptionally involuntary. Now, we are talking about a system here that ADHD children truly enjoy. However, it leads to a cultural echo chamber that rarely creates perception among them.
As a neurodiverse child who struggles with social setups, it is challenging to attain perception through varied groups. Therefore, parents, caregivers, and even school teachers have the opportunity to broaden their mindset.
- When children are inclined to understand the varied cultures, mindsets, and every stream of consciousness, they develop a flexible mind. It is the key to critical thinking.
- Even the online portal can be utilized to introduce a culturally rich and diverse mindset. A basic example would be showcasing food – each country or culture has its staple. Something a 4-year-old ADHD kid may not know until introduced.
- A child accustomed to foods like Pizza and chicken nuggets will likely become curious when they encounter sushi or Dosa. Such instances trigger questions, healthy questions that they can learn from you or explore through self-search on the internet.
Critical thinking begins one step at a time; however, we do need to provide them the right scope.
5. The DCM Method
DCM, or Discipline, Conversation, and Media, is an approach designed for the digital information age, particularly for neurodiverse kids. It directly addresses the core concerns – how you choose to discipline them, the type of conversations that drive change, and the media you can rely on.
The entire process is designed to impart lessons in critical thinking to kids who can barely concentrate.
- We often perceive parenting as a form of control. Well, authoritarianism barely works in a generic standard, let alone in neurodiversity. Good means rewards, bad means grounded – it further escalates bad behavior. The approach needs to be positive discipline.
- Bad behavior in ADHD or anxious children changes with awareness. Simply telling ‘No, you cannot do that’ only provokes them to continue. However, asking yourself why they shouldn’t and creating that awareness within them is what creates the wave.
- Conversation, specifically questions, is the cornerstone of critical thinking abilities. They enable neurodiverse children to think better, explore beyond the ordinary, and think differently. As a parent, it is crucial to create a space where your child is introduced to varied atmospheres and to question every aspect.
- These questions create a connection of trust and better bonding with parents. Hence, with more conversations and questions, ADHD children feel comfortable thinking critically. Furthermore, children, neurodiverse or not, typically enjoy asking questions, unless they are rebuked. So, encourage them to ask, even if they are difficult.
- The media plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s perspective in this generation. So, as a parent, it is crucial to analyze the media before exposing them to it. In most cases, our children are left alone with media, which they. However, engaging with them has its benefits. As a parent, you can actively engage in determining whether they are consuming the right media and if it is healthy for their development.
- When it comes to digital media, there is good, bad, and ugly. Child-friendly media ensures kids learn the essential stuff – virtues, happy stuff, morals, and more. We must involve them in this positive media and understand their perceptions.
There is no right or wrong way to cultivate critical thinking in children. However, expanding their curiosity has always worked. The more they think for themselves, the greater the brain boost impact.
Teaching Critical Thinking At Home – The Right Measures
Critical thinking is one of the most prized skills to possess, for both adults and kids. For a neurodivergent individual, it is a crucial measure to develop beyond their inherent qualities.
Practical reasoning, critical thinking, and creative skill build strong character, driven by wise and determined choices. However, this is something you cannot teach with textbooks.
Whether you are developing critical thinking skills in preschoolers or kids about to start their teen years, there are at-home activities to boost the process.
Take note of these popular critical thinking games for kids –
1. Problems in a Jar
Critical thinking skills for kids begin with problem-solving abilities. While it sounds simple, practically training children to solve a problem can be difficult.
Here is how you can play ‘Problems in a Jar’ –
- Create a jar with small pieces of paper featuring real-time scenarios. It means that if you are aiming for 30-day training, there will be 30+ problems for your child to solve.
- Each problem is designed to meet your kids’ unique needs. For instance, if they have decision-making problems in general, it offers them a scenario of choice.
- Let them pick chits and elaborate on how they would tackle the situation. There are no wrong answers in this game.
- With time, they will get better at solving problems. You can incorporate their ideas in real time by simply asking, “What do you think we should do?” or “Can you help me decide what to do?”
- Problem-solving has a unique structure that helps an individual identify the problem and curate a plausible solution. It triggers response strategies and boosts critical thinking.
2. Puzzle Together
Puzzles, critical or simple, have always been a brilliant activity to charge up the brain neurons. Jigsaws, Shoots & Ladders, Tic Tac Toe – these are fun, children enjoy them, and also learn from them.
Puzzles help build cognitive strength, decision-making, and critical analysis. Once again, there is no right and wrong, only how much they are having while playing it.
These games are better than having your child doom scroll digital media, and we all know there is little reliable information there.
3. Tell Them Stories & Engage Them with Books
Not just any story, but stories that hold a strong moral. Books have a brilliant way of elevating imaginative power, especially in children with ADHD. Tell them stories of courage, strong main characters, stories that talk about truthfulness, and clearly define what right and wrong are.
Share stories and don’t tell them what to think. Let their imagination do the task. Keeping situations open-ended helps them critically analyze the situation and come to a conclusion.
For children below 6-7, opt for books with images and colors. It keeps them engaged and boosts the muscle memory. Also, carefully analyze the stories you share. Similar to digital media, several books convey a negative message and condition children.
4. Building Blocks and LEGOs
These play items come with endless possibilities. With a building block or LEGO set, children can pretty much build anything.
However, the idea is not to tell them what to build. Let their imagination fill the gaps between their storyline.
The more things they create, the more they use their brainpower, thereby enhancing their critical thinking abilities. From homes to animals, let them play around with shapes, colors, and pieces – supercharging the fireworks in the brain.
You can also introduce your child to digital building blocks like Minecraft, where they create endlessly. It immediately turns into healthy screen time, not involving negative consumption.
5. Guided Meditations
It is difficult to convince a four-year-old or a five-year-old to sit and meditate – they barely know how that works.
Guided meditation activities create a zone for children to calm themselves and elevate focus.
The benefits of meditation for children are profound. However, ADHD children with ADHD find it difficult to engage in a singular activity; it is advised to opt for short meditation sessions. These 2-3 minutes of mindfulness meditation enhance critical thinking abilities by boosting concentration and fostering self-awareness of one’s body, senses, and emotions.
These simple, at-home critical thinking activities online develop logical thinking in children. They become aware of their inner workings, the environment, and how to react to specific situations, all the while with their critical thinking cap on.
Learn Critical Thinking Skills with ChomChomTech
As children navigate through their difficult times and slowly develop critical thinking abilities, it is a parent’s proactive approach that allows them to look beyond the bigger picture.
Here is where ChomChom comes as a guided pathway.
ChomChomTech Corp. is an exclusive skill-building app for kids with ADHD, PDA, and other neurodiverse abilities. It is packed with advanced brain games for kids’ critical thinking and creative intelligence, powered by bite-sized and fun activities.
ChomChom brings the true meaning of the power of play, where you can explore adventurous and creative thinking activities for kids from ages 4 to 10. As a parent, you can become an active participant in your child’s learning of critical thinking skills through activities like Color Catch Adventure, guided meditation, and more.
Download the ChomChom App today to learn more!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. At what age should I start teaching critical thinking to my child?
Children can learn critical thinking skills from a very young age. You can begin teaching from the age of 4 and continue through various activities until their teenage years.
2. How can I assess my child’s critical thinking progress?
As a parent of a neurodiverse child, the signs your kid is learning critical thinking skills are obvious. You will observe greater focus and keenness to solve problems as they analyze daily activities with fun. You may also find considerable improvement in academia, quizzes, and be willing to study or learn.
3. Are there specific online games that are better for developing critical thinking?
At ChomChomTech, we encourage you and your child to explore the Mood Quest game. It is an emotional awareness game for children to build focus, coordination, confidence, and overall critical abilities.
For the record, this game has guided numerous children and their parents to tackle lack of focus and emotional control.
4. Why is critical thinking no longer taught in schools?
Over time, school syllabi have expanded to cover vast amounts of information. The institutions are under constant pressure to complete the course. Hence, critical thinking activities become an additional responsibility that is not prioritized.
5. Does critical thinking hinder creativity?
No. It is the other way round. Critical thinking and creativity work in tandem to raise a growing mind into becoming confident and resilient.
5. Is my child a critical thinker?
There are three definite signs of a critical thinker, even in children. They are always curious, compassionate without judgment, and know how to communicate their emotions. Even if your child shows one of these three, it is the first step, and they can become a critical thinker with the right support.
Download the ChomChomTech App for better guidance!
