Education of Critical Thinking

If you write or speak to parents about the importance of correct spelling, it would be sufficient to give them one lesson on this topic so that they would then, for many years, pay attention to how this skill develops in their children, what mistakes they constantly make, how difficult this science is for someone. In any school, students study their native language for ten years or more.

And what do you think, how many years do parents need to spend to instill in their children what they themselves will not learn without outside help? I think this period lasts until coming of age, and when children grow up and leave their father's house, they should be finally and completely given into God's hands and in a prayerful spirit observe who they have become and what path they have chosen for themselves.

Many modern sources of information destroy the ability to analyze and delve into the essence of things. They, like fast food restaurants, offer an abundance of everything, filling consciousness with anything, but leaving the mind hungry, not giving what grants true spiritual health and happiness.

To raise one Christian from one child, parents need to give the best years of their life, invest the best time, spend the most needed money and show, at the same time, the longest patience, the most unconditional love and the most Heavenly wisdom. But it is worth it, and many men and women agree to such a sacrifice, and see a certain meaning in this, and are ready to refuse many other paths for this sake.

Educating critical thinking in a teenager is a very prolonged process that parents can launch, and its duration can last the entire remaining life if the taught young person understands the importance of such a worldview. You can give spontaneous lessons in this direction, or you can systematize this direction of life and introduce this discipline into daily life, making such communication fascinating and useful for everyone. I think it is very pleasant for every father and mother to hear analytical reasoning from their children, starting from an early age, when the mind awakens and begins to put all familiar words and expressions accepted in your house into logical chains. And there is no greater joy for parents when their teenager gives wise answers to complex questions and then adheres to the set course.

Do not think that your correct questions are spoken to the wind. By forcing the teenager to give analytical answers, you help him make choices based on his own words, with which he determines the direction of life for himself.

There are many questions that can be briefly answered "yes" or "no." For example: "Did you like this?" But if you ask: "What did you like or not like?" - then you can hear a more detailed answer.

The most pleasant thing for parents is to hear from their teenagers such expressions: "And you know, dad, ..." or: "Mom, I want to tell you something important ..." Do not miss this moment and put aside everything in the world to carefully listen to what will be entrusted to you after these words. If you miss this opportunity several times, justifying yourself with the importance of urgent matters, then you risk never again hearing what your children wanted to reveal to you and not learning the details of their experiences, which are very important to them.

Educating critical thinking helps parents reach the level of deeper relationships with their teenagers. With your unobtrusive questions and your joyful reaction of an interested listener, you do not violate their freedom but help them find the right answer to many incomprehensible things in their life.

But such education should not concentrate on negativity and negative evaluation. In some cases you need to ask, what does Scripture say about this? Or, how does Heaven look at such an approach? But even in these questions it is important to sense the teenager's mood and his desire to continue the conversation in the given direction.

The Bible gives very much wise advice regarding the investigation of various questions. Even topics concerning personal salvation can be tested and double-checked by an inquiring mind and this is welcomed.

When Nathanael was told about Jesus of Nazareth, he critically perceived this information: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" But he decided to personally test the recommended Person and involuntarily testified that He is the Son of God and King of Israel. (John 1:45-49).

Therefore do not worry when your children show skepticism about things incomprehensible to them. This is a good indicator that they think before simply agreeing with you.

For better understanding of how your questions might sound, I will give some list of them as an example, which you can formulate in your own way.

In discussing advertising: "What do you think, is this really as necessary as it is offered?" "How do you understand, who benefits from this?" "Isn't this manipulation?"

Viewing the message feed from friends on social networks: "What useful thing was learned from your friends' lives?" "What do you think your friends want to convey with their photos?" "Do you want to be like your friends and live as they show?"

When listening to news: "Can you distinguish fake news from real ones?" "What position do you take after what was heard?" "And let's look at this news from another side?"

About school life: "What would happen if you had no tests and exams?" "Why do students need homework? How would you study without it?" "What would you like to add to the school program?"

About various interesting facts: "How did this become known to you?" "Is there another opinion about this?" "How can this be useful in your life?"

About books read: "What important thing was revealed to you in this book?" "Do you want to try writing your own book?" "Why did the author choose precisely this topic?"

Discussing friends: "How do you see, do your friends influence you?" "If the police knew about everything your company does, would you have problems with authorities?" "Do you have such friends who would give their soul for you?" "How do you understand, what should or should not the closest friend be like?"

When making decisions: "What will happen if you act this way or that?" "Are there any other options?" "Are you ready to independently bear the consequences of your choice?"

In a bad mood: "May I sit quietly nearby?" "What do you want most right now: to talk, to be alone, or for someone to be nearby?" "If you need my help, I'm always nearby!"

When your help is needed: "What would help you feel better?" "Do you want to tell me something or do you want to know something?" "You don't need to tell me everything, but I'm always nearby to help you."

How your questions should not sound: "What's wrong with you?" "And why are you pouting again?" "Can you be more cheerful?" "And when will you get smarter?"

Respect and tact will never be superfluous in your relationships. Before you is not a small child, but an independent person, though still young.

1. Please read 1Thess. 5:21; 1John 4:1; Acts 17:11; Col. 2:8; Prov. 3:5-6; 16:21; 18:13; 26:4; 1Cor. 15:33; Eccl. 7:25, in light of this lesson.

2. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind?

3. What was revealed to you in this chapter?

4. Why is it important to develop this quality of thinking precisely in adolescence?

5. What prevents a teenager from thinking critically in the modern world?

6. What spiritual foundations can be laid to develop discernment?

7. What Bible characters are examples of critically thinking people?

8. How do you react when a teenager begins to doubt your words?

9. What is more in your questions: desire to instruct or desire to understand?

10. Is it important that you patiently wait until the child "matures" for a deep conversation?

11. How can you teach a teenager to check his opinion against God's Word?

12. Should a teenager have a place of solitude for reflection and prayer?

13. How can your personal example influence the education of critical thinking in a teenager?

14. What prayers should be said about developing critical thinking in your child?