There are many ways you can help your child learn these important thinking skills. Here are some ideas to try:

• Ask questions. Say things like, “I wonder why that happened.” Encourage your children to ask the same kinds of questions.

• Encourage your child to find facts to back up her opinions. If she feels strongly about an issue, help her write a letter to the newspaper or the mayor.

• Ask questions about school work. After your child reads a lesson, ask her what was the most important thing she read.

• Talk about the questions teachers are asking, not just what they are teaching. In history, the teacher might have asked, “Why did people come to live in the Americas?”

• Think out loud. We don’t always let our children know how we solve problems. The next time you face a decision, share your thoughts. Talk about each step. Your child will see what it takes to think a problem through.

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