Ep 85 How Questions Encourage Critical Thinking in Children
Update: 2025-10-13
Description
Not all questions are created equal. In this episode we discuss how open-ended questions stimulate critical thinking and curiosity. We explore strategies to move away from giving direct answers and instead, encourage exploration and inquiry. The episode emphasises the significance of waiting for children to formulate their responses and using concrete materials to help them understand concepts. Additionally, it highlights the importance of raising a generation of critical thinkers who are not afraid to ask questions and investigate biases.
A free downloadable PDF with open-ended question prompts is available for you to assist in nurturing children's curiosity.
A free downloadable PDF with open-ended question prompts is available for you to assist in nurturing children's curiosity.
00:00 The Power of Questions in Engaging Children
00:36 The Purpose of Questions: Inviting Thinking
01:05 Encouraging Curiosity: Moving Away from Closed Questions
01:46 Building on Children's Interests: Exploration and Inquiry
02:43 The Role of Wait Time in Questioning
03:23 Handling Incorrect Answers: Encouraging Concrete Understanding
04:21 Raising Critical Thinkers: The Importance of Questions
05:13 Resources for Encouraging Curiosity
05:33 Conclusion and Call to Action
The show notes and pdf download is on the episode website
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