We live in a culture today that rarely teaches critical thinking skills anymore, at any age. Teaching those skills to our children will not only help them in life but will also help them process Scripture and the difficult questions of our faith, even if they are only applying what used to be known as “common sense.” Scripture even tells us that being prudent (having good and thoughtful judgment) is important. Proverbs 14:15 states, “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thoughts to his steps.”
How can we help our children be critical thinkers? We can begin by asking them questions regularly that provoke a thoughtful response. Developing well rounded thinkers that challenge simple but important things in life will encourage steps of critical thinking when the questions that surface aren’t so simple. In Proverb 18:17, we’re told that “the one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” Today, it takes very little to convince of anything because ideologies are not challenged with examination and critical thinking!
Here are four categories of questions about simple, but important life issues to help any parent begin teaching critical thinking skills. The point is to normalize the critical thinking discussions even if they cannot provide answers that demonstrate their full understanding:
- Questions about family
- Questions about growing up/priorities
- Questions about relationships
- Questions about faith
Ideas for general questions (for any category):
- How do you know that’s true?
- What would you say if you were on the opposing side?
- Why does that matter?
- Do you agree or disagree? Why?
- How would you solve this problem? How would you avoid it in the future?
- Why are you asking that question?
- Can you spot the lie in this movie scene? (On this sign? In this book? On this commercial? On the news? Etc.)
Ideas for questions about family to be asked periodically:
- What does it mean to be a family?
- How many people are in your family? Just mom, dad, and kids or more?
- What’s your favorite thing about your mom (dad, sister, brother, cousin, etc.)?
- Why do you think you were given the name _______? Do you think names are important?
- Why is it important to listen to your parents?
Ideas for questions about growing up/priorities to be asked periodically:
- What is the best thing that happened today? What is the worst?
- What should you be doing right now? Why?
- What is most important in your life? Why?
- What talent/gift do you have that is unique to you?
- What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
Ideas for questions about relationships to be asked periodically:
- Are friends more important than family?
- What’s one thing about me that you wish you could change?
- What do you think are the best differences between boys and girls?
- How would you like to be known to others: by your looks, what you do, etc.?
- Can you give me an example of something worth arguing about and an example of something NOT worth arguing about?
Ideas for questions about faith to be asked periodically:
- Who are you pleasing right now: yourself or God? Why?
- What is the difference between subjective and objective truth?
- Why do you think that God allowed that to happen?
- Why is the Bible important?
- Why is Jesus’ resurrection important?
- Why should we pray if God already knows what will happen?
- What does it mean to have faith?
Recommended Resources:
- Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side by Natasha Crain
- Children Demand a Verdict by Josh McDowell
- Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer
- Foundation Worldview Curriculum: https://foundationworldview.com/blog/how-to-equip-your-kids-to-think-critically-about-their-beliefs-with-alisa-childers
- The Discipleship Begins at Home Conference: https://womeninapologetics.com/dbah2022/
First published with Women In Apologetics
