A popular misconception pertaining to the ability of thinking in children is not being limited by their cognitive development. In reality, they were just thinking differently from adults. The most desperately needed thinking skill in our community is "critical thinking".

Today's education system is highly responsibe for generating an intellectual community. Critical thinking is a crucial element in children's education. The most important outcome of an education is the development of the ability to think critically.

Some people mistakenly presumed that critical thinking is about criticising something we comprehend in a negative way. Thinking critically should not be presumed that it is supposed to be criticising something.

Once you have learnt a thing critically, you might criticise any argument, but your idea will be very thoughtful and it will be based on reasonable considerations.

According to one definition, critical thinking is the careful application of reason in the determination of whether a claim is true. Critical thinking creates the community who solicit for the rationale behind every issue and not blindly follow what other people are saying.

How can we develop our children’s critical thinking skills?

The traditional concept of classroom learning doesn’t look very promising in developing the art of critical thinking among children.

In the middle of the 21st century, there is a definite need for pouring the skill of critical thinking in every aspect of children’s learning in order to produce an intellectual community.

The need to emphasise critical thinking skill from the beginning in children’s education is very essential for them to develop the sense of competence in future.

Teachers’ feedback on the degree of accomplishment of critical thinking skill objectives during lessons is to assist the child to learn on how to correct faulty thinking, so that they could monitor their thinking and avoid such problems.

Teach these skills explicitly

Research has shown that critical thinking skill is not to merely develop the standard classroom instructions, but it needs to be remained intentionally and to be taught explicitly. Classroom learning should create the conducive atmosphere by encouraging children to improve the capability of asking questions.

These skills certainly will help them to eliminate their fear of asking questions, particularly when they have stepped into their tertiary level.

Teachers and parents should emphasise more on intellectually stimulating tasks repetitively, and encourage children to think liberally and critically. Rich arrays of these supplements help children to develop their critical thinking skills.

Besides that, research has shown that in the long run, critical thinkers should have more desirable outcomes than people who are not skilled in this area.

A child naturally shows a strong desire to know about everything. This inherent curiosity should be greatly inspired by their parents and teacher in a constructive way in order to develop their critical thinking skill.

There is a need for a revolutionary change, a paradigm shift in the way of raising our children in this 21st century.

Mark my words; we will never change anything in our society if we are barely giving them the knowledge of critical thinking and not practising it still. Provide our children the freedom of asking questions without setting any parameters which limits their development of an inquisitive mind.

Developing an intellectual community with a high level of critical thinking skills certainly will bring our nation into a new era of educational attainment.

The benefits that come from having a well-developed critical thinking skill for the individual definitely make it worth the effort.