1. Encourage questioning. Ask your child to think critically about the things he or she sees and hears. Ask open-ended questions that require more than a simple yes or no answer. For example, “Why do you think that man is homeless?”
2. Help your child practice problem solving. Offer your child opportunities to solve problems both big and small. Encourage her to come up with multiple solutions and to think outside the box.
3. Promote independent thinking. Encourage your child to form her own opinions and to stand up for them. Even if you don’t agree with her, it’s important for her to learn how to defend her beliefs.
4. Teach your child how to research. Help your child learn how to find reliable sources of information and how to assess the validity of those sources.
5. Encourage collaboration. Help your child learn how to work cooperatively with others. Encourage her to share her ideas and to listen to the ideas of others.