Critical thinking is a quality that I think is very admirable. To be able to evaluate and assess a situation, especially quickly, is truly a gift! (One, I might add, that does not come naturally to me!)
When thinking of different people who possess critical thinking skills, doctors come to mind, policemen, fighter jet pilots, CEO’s of large companies…
Well, what if we could start instilling these very same skills in our toddlers?!? It sounds crazy, but why not??
Obviously, critical thinking skills will look different in my three year old than in a professional ER doc. But there’s no time like the present to start exercising that specific part of his brain.
I have come up with a game that (in a fun way!!) causes Rudy to evaluate a situation and then come up with a decision. As always, keeping it fun and lively is the key to a toddler’s successful learning!
I hope you enjoy this game! It’s very easy set-up, and I believe the results are fantastic!
What Doesn’t Belong?
Set-Up
- Spend time collecting specific items around your house. You want about five sets of three items. Each set needs to contain two items that “belong” together, and one item that does not “belong”. For example:
Set 1 – a toothbrush, toothpaste, a sock.
Set 2 – a hairbrush, a comb, a pen.
Set 3 – piece of paper, a pen, a fork. Etc… - Bring in your child and tell him that you’re going to play a game called “What Doesn’t Belong”. Don’t forget that super-excited, sing-songy voice! 🙂
- Place one set of items in a row in front of him. Have him name to you what he sees.
Rudy told me that he sees a shoe, sunglasses, and socks.
- Then ask him which one of the three items doesn’t belong. You can re-word this in different ways if you need to:
– Which one item is different?
– Which item doesn’t go with the other two?
Which item is different? The ball! Way to go, Rudy!
- Go through all five sets of items, and award a big prize at the end! This game requires a new way of thinking for most toddlers, and can be challenging, even frustrating, at first!
He identified the three objects (fork, saw, wrench) and decided that the fork was the odd man out! Good job, Rudy!
Rudy identified a spoon, a fighter jet, and a fork. He said that the jet was different!
I hope you and your child benefit from and have fun with this game! I have honestly seen a great progression in the last few months of Rudy’s ability to reason and think through situations. I have slowly, yet progressively, made the “sets” more difficult, and he is tackling them like a pro!
If you have any other “critical thinking” games, please share! Let’s push our children to work hard and be the best that they can be!
