Allow your children to speak; that is if you intend to enhance their thinking skills. Sometimes adults feel like they are are obliged to say something, for every occasion. So they keep talking and explaining to the child, thinking that if they do not, who will? But when will these children learn to figure things out for themselves, if you give them the answers, every time? One sure way of developing your child’s thinking skills is by not answering the entire question. For instance if a child asks, “How does a maize seed grow?” Instead of rushing and telling them the whole process ask the child: “You tell me, how do you think it develops?” Then work your way through the entire process by asking encouraging questions like, “After you put the seed in the soil, then what do you think happens,” and so on. When they get stuck ask them to go and observe it or think about it and then continue the discussion at a later time. When they get the right answer, they will be delighted with their achievement that it will be worth the effort. But this is time consuming, you might think. But think about it, if we give them easy answers to their questions, how will they ever learn to think for themselves? Eventually, before they ask you, the children will first contemplate the issue and then come to confirm their suspicions. Then you will be really glad you put the effort and practiced the virtue of patience. Letting children be children is another crucial aspect of enhancing thinking skills. By nature, children are playful and love action. Very creative children can actually play using anything. They can play and eat air as make-believe food and do all sorts of things quite happily. This creativity must be allowed to flourish, that is why it is vital that we allow children enough time and room to play in a safe environment. Asking them to read their books all the time instead of apportioning their time appropriately is not helping them to think. When they actually experience things through play, they learn so much better and are able to form longer lasting impressions of things or of lessons learned, than if they are simply told. So let them play.
