Every child has the potential to be a critical thinker and problem-solver.

At The Tech-Balance Institute our goal is to help children develop these important skills of critical thinking and problem solving in a fun and engaging way.

Here are some activities and exercises to help:

Nurturing critical thinking and problem solving in children lays the foundation for a lifetime of creative and effective problem solving.

1. Brain Teasers and Riddles

Brain teasers and riddles provide a challenging and stimulating mental workout for children, helping them to develop their cognitive abilities and sharpen their minds. Solving these types of puzzles can also help children to improve their attention span, memory retention, and overall academic performance.

Brain teasers and riddles are not only fun, but they also provide a great opportunity for children to exercise their brains. Incorporating these types of activities into your child's routine can help them to improve their problem-solving abilities and become more creative and confident thinkers.

Encourage your child to flex their mental muscles every day..

Here are a few brain teasers and riddles to try out with your kids today:

What goes up but never comes down?

Answer: Age.

I am not alive but I can grow; I don't have lungs, but I need air; I don't have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?

Answer: Fire

You see a boat filled with people, but there isn’t a single person on board. How is that possible?

Answer: All the people on the boat are married.

What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?

Answer: Silence.

2. Encourage Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions are a powerful tool for stimulating critical thinking and problem-solving skills in children. They require children to think beyond simple yes or no answers and to consider multiple perspectives and possibilities.

Instead of asking your child yes or no questions like "Did you have a good day at school?" try asking "What was the most challenging thing you learned today?" This will encourage your child to think more deeply and critically about their experiences.

Try out these open-ended questions with your kids:

What do you think would happen if...?
Why do you think...?
How would you solve...?
What do you think is the most important...?
How do you feel about...?
What if things were different...?
What are some other ways to...?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of...?
What questions do you have about...?
What would happen if we didn't have...?

These types of open-ended questions can encourage kids to think critically and creatively, as they require them to use their imagination and problem-solving skills to come up with answers. They can be used in a variety of settings, such as during family discussions, in the classroom, or during playtime, to help children develop their critical thinking skills.

3. Foster creativity

Creativity is essential for developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When children are encouraged to think creatively, they learn to approach problems from multiple angles and to think outside the box. You can foster creativity by providing your child with a variety of art supplies and materials, encouraging them to explore different ideas and solutions, and giving them the freedom to express themselves in their own unique way.

Try out these creativity exercises with your kids:

Provide unstructured play time: Give children plenty of unstructured play time, where they can use their imaginations and create their own games, stories, and scenarios. Provide simple materials like boxes, sticks, or rocks that can inspire creative play.
Foster a love for the arts: Encourage children to explore and appreciate different art forms, such as music, painting, sculpture, or theater. Take them to art shows, concerts, or performances, and help them create their own art pieces at home.
Encourage divergent thinking: Instead of asking children to provide one right answer to a question, encourage them to generate multiple solutions or ideas. For example, ask them to come up with different ways to use a paperclip or a cardboard box.
Encourage creative problem-solving: Challenge children to find new and innovative solutions to everyday problems. For example, they can invent a new game with their friends, find a new use for an old object, or design a contraption that solves a problem in their community.

Remember, fostering creativity in children requires a mindset shift towards valuing exploration, innovation, and divergent thinking. These strategies should be tailored to the child's interests and abilities, and involve plenty of opportunities for self-expression and play.

4. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness exercises are a powerful way to help children develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When children learn to focus their attention and be present in the moment, they are better able to think clearly and make sound decisions.

Try doing some breathing exercises together, or even just taking a few moments to sit quietly and focus on your breath. This will help your child learn to think more clearly and critically.

Try out these mindfulness techniques with your kids:

Mindful breathing: Encourage children to focus on their breath, feeling the sensation of air coming in and out of their nose or mouth. They can count their breaths, or notice how the breath feels cool going in and warm going out.
Body scan: Have kids close their eyes and focus on their body from head to toe, noticing any sensations they feel without judgment. They can start at the top of their head and work their way down to their toes.
Mindful listening: Ask children to close their eyes and listen to the sounds around them, focusing on each sound they hear. They can identify the source of the sound or just notice its presence.
Mindful walking: Encourage children to walk slowly and mindfully, paying attention to the feeling of their feet touching the ground and the movement of their body. They can also focus on the sights and sounds around them as they walk.
Gratitude practice: Have kids think of something they're grateful for and spend a few moments focusing on that feeling. They can express their gratitude out loud or in writing.
Body movements: Practice yoga or tai chi with children to help them connect their body movements with their breath and focus their attention.
Mindful colouring: Coloring can be a calming activity that helps children focus their attention and quiet their minds. Encourage them to choose colors mindfully and stay present in the moment as they color.
Mindful eating: Encourage children to eat mindfully, paying attention to the taste, texture, and smell of the food. They can also notice how their body feels before, during, and after eating.

Remember, these mindfulness techniques should be done in a fun and playful way with children, and they should be adapted to the child's age and abilities.

5. Play Board Games

Board games are a fun and engaging way to help children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Many board games require players to think strategically, anticipate their opponent's moves, and make sound decisions under pressure.

Try out these board games to help your child develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Chess: This classic game requires players to think several steps ahead and anticipate their opponent's moves. It's a great way to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Checkers: A classic two-player strategy game that requires players to move their pieces diagonally across the board and capture their opponent's pieces. The game requires players to think ahead and anticipate their opponent's moves.

Settlers of Catan: A classic strategic board game that requires players to gather resources and build settlements to become the dominant civilization on the island. It's a great way for children to develop critical thinking and strategic skills.

Jenga: A classic stacking game where players must remove blocks from a tower without causing it to collapse. The game requires players to think carefully about which blocks to remove and how to keep the tower stable.

Cluedo: This mystery-solving game requires players to use deduction and logical reasoning to determine the identity of the murderer, the weapon, and the location of the crime. Players must analyse the evidence and eliminate possibilities to solve the mystery.

6. Practice Logic Puzzles

Logic puzzles are a great way to help children develop their critical thinking skills. They require children to think logically, to analyse information, and to make deductions based on evidence. You can find logic puzzles online or in puzzle books

Try out these logic puzzles with your kids:

Sudoku: A number-based puzzle where players must fill a 9x9 grid with the numbers 1-9 without repeating any numbers in a row, column, or 3x3 box.
Crosswords: A word-based puzzle where players must fill in the grid with words that intersect at certain letters. The clues are usually definitions or hints to the words.
Cryptograms: A puzzle where players must decode a message by substituting letters with other letters or symbols according to a pattern.
Logic grid puzzles: A puzzle where players use clues to fill in a grid with information about different items, such as their colors, shapes, or locations.
Tangram: A puzzle where players must arrange seven geometric shapes to form a specific picture or shape.
Rubik's Cube: A 3D puzzle where players must twist and turn the cube to align the colors on each side.
Mastermind: A code-breaking game where one player creates a secret code and the other player must guess the code by using clues from previous guesses.
Picross: A puzzle where players must use logic and deduction to fill in a grid with colored blocks according to numerical clues.