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23 Activities to Develop Critical Thinking Skills in Children

Are you looking for ways to help your child become a better problem solver and decision maker?

Do you want to prepare them for success in the 21st century, where critical thinking skills are highly valued?

Look no further, because in this post we will share 23 engaging activities that can help your child develop critical thinking skills. From puzzles and games to real-life scenarios and creative challenges, these activities will not only enhance your child’s thinking abilities but also keep them entertained and curious. As a parent, it is important to give your child the tools they need to succeed, and critical thinking skills are a vital part of that toolkit.

So, let’s dive in and discover some fun and effective ways to help your child develop critical thinking skills!

Table of Contents

What is critical thinking skills?

Critical thinking is a cognitive process that involves analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information to make informed decisions and solve problems effectively. It involves the ability to question assumptions, examine evidence, and consider multiple perspectives to arrive at logical and evidence-based conclusions.

For example, when playing a game of chess, a player must analyze the board, anticipate their opponent’s moves, and make strategic decisions based on the available information. Similarly, when conducting research, an individual must evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources and synthesize information to form a coherent argument.

Importance of developing critical thinking skills in children

Developing critical thinking skills in children is crucial for their overall cognitive and social-emotional development. Research has shown that children who possess strong critical thinking skills are better equipped to make sound decisions, solve complex problems, and communicate effectively with others.

One study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles found that students who received training in critical thinking showed significant improvements in their reading and writing abilities. These students also demonstrated higher levels of creativity and were better able to understand and analyze complex issues.

In addition, developing critical thinking skills can help children become more independent and confident in their decision-making abilities. They learn to evaluate information and evidence, identify biases, and consider different perspectives before making a decision. This can lead to a greater sense of self-awareness and a better understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses.

Furthermore, critical thinking skills are essential in today’s rapidly changing world. As technology continues to advance and the job market evolves, individuals who possess strong critical thinking skills are more likely to succeed. They are better equipped to adapt to new challenges and to identify new opportunities.

Overall, the development of critical thinking skills is essential for children’s long-term success and well-being. By providing them with opportunities to practice critical thinking skills through various activities and experiences, parents and educators can help children become effective problem solvers, communicators, and decision-makers.

Recommended reading:  How To Teach Your Child To Think Out Of The Box

Recommended reading: 9 Fun Activities to Build Listening Skills in Children

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Raising Children 101 (@raising_children_101)

Activities to develop critical thinking skills in children

Critical thinking skills can be developed through various activities that require individuals to analyze and evaluate information, develop hypotheses, and test their ideas using evidence.

• Read Books Together: Reading books with children helps to develop their critical thinking skills. Encourage them to ask questions about the story, analyze the characters’ actions, and make predictions about the outcome.
• Board Games: Board games are a fun way to develop critical thinking skills in children. Games such as chess, checkers, and monopoly require children to think strategically and make decisions based on the outcome of their moves. Playing board games also encourages children to think creatively and come up with unique solutions to problems.
• Encourage Questions: Encourage children to ask questions about the world around them. This can help them to develop their analytical skills and learn how to evaluate information.
• Play “What If” Games: “What If” games encourage children to think creatively and critically. For example, ask them what they would do if they were stranded on a deserted island or if they could travel through time.
• Brainstorm Solutions: Encourage children to brainstorm solutions to problems they encounter. This can help them develop their problem-solving skills and learn how to think critically.
• Mind Mapping: Mind mapping is a great activity to improve critical thinking skills in children. It helps children to organize their ideas and think creatively. Give your child a topic and ask them to create a mind map by writing down all their thoughts and ideas related to the topic. This activity can help your child to improve their brainstorming skills and connect different ideas.
• Play Sudoku: Sudoku is a logic-based game that requires critical thinking skills. It requires children to think logically and use deductive reasoning to solve a problem. Sudoku puzzles can be found in many newspapers and online.
• Conduct Research: Encourage children to conduct research on a topic that interests them. This can help them develop their analytical skills and learn how to evaluate information.
• Watch Documentaries: Documentaries are a great way to develop critical thinking skills in children. Encourage them to ask questions about the information presented and analyze the content.
• Play “What’s Missing”: “What’s Missing” is a memory game that requires children to think critically and remember information. For example, lay out several objects and ask them to identify which one is missing.
• Play “I Spy”: “I Spy” is a game that requires children to think critically and observe their surroundings. It can help develop their analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Play Charades: Charades is a game that requires children to think creatively and critically. It helps develop their problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Play “20 Questions”: “20 Questions” is a game that requires children to ask questions and think critically. It can help them develop their analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Play “Would You Rather”: “Would You Rather” is a game that encourages children to think critically and make informed decisions. It helps them develop their problem-solving skills.
• Play “Spot the Differences”: “Spot the Differences” is a game that requires children to think critically and observe their surroundings. It helps develop their analytical skills.
• Play “Who Am I”: “Who Am I” is a game that requires children to think critically and ask questions. It helps develop their analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Write Stories: Encourage children to write stories that require critical thinking skills. For example, they could be asked to create a story that involves problem-solving, decision-making, or predicting an outcome. This activity encourages children to think creatively and come up with unique solutions to problems, helping them develop their critical thinking skills.
• Science Experiments: Science experiments are a fun way to develop critical thinking skills in children by encouraging them to ask questions, analyze data, and draw conclusions.. Encourage children to think about the scientific method and predict what will happen during an experiment. This encourages children to think about cause and effect and develops their critical thinking skills.
• Mystery Box: A mystery box is a great way to develop critical thinking skills in children. Place a number of items in a box and ask children to guess what the items are based on their shape, texture, and weight. This activity encourages children to think creatively and use deductive reasoning to solve a problem.
• Coding: Coding is a great way to develop critical thinking skills in children. It requires children to think logically and use deductive reasoning to solve problems. There are many online resources available that teach children how to code.
• Debate: Debating is a great way to develop critical thinking skills in children. It requires children to think critically and come up with logical arguments to support their position. Debating also helps children develop their communication skills and learn how to express their thoughts and opinions effectively.
• Brain Teasers: Brain teasers are a fun way to develop critical thinking skills in children. They require children to think creatively and use deductive reasoning to solve problems. Brain teasers can be found in many puzzle books and online.
• Puzzles: Puzzles are an excellent way to enhance critical thinking skills in children. Give your child puzzles that require them to use their logical reasoning, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills. Puzzles can be in the form of jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, or any other puzzle that requires critical thinking.

By incorporating these activities into your child’s daily routine, you can help them to develop critical thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. These activities can be a fun and engaging way for children to learn and develop their cognitive skills.

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36 Fun Critical Thinking Games and Activities for Kids (Printable)

Critical Thinking Games & Activities for Kids: Critical thinking skills are widely recognized as essential to equip children for learning, in and outside the classroom, and for modern life. In this post, we will explore what critical thinking means, why it is so important, and how to help build these skills in children with 36 fun critical thinking activities. You will also be able to download a free worksheet with some of the activities mentioned in the post.

Table of Contents

• What is critical thinking?
• Why are critical thinking skills important?
• How can we help build the skills and mindset for critical thinking?
• 36 Fun critical thinking activities for kids
• Critical thinking worksheets download

What is Critical Thinking?

We all know more or less what critical thinking is. So it may surprise you to know that there is no one standard, agreed definition. US philosopher and educator John Dewey first developed the concept in the early 20th century, although he more commonly used the term “reflective thinking”, defined as:

“Active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it and the further conclusions to which it tends.”

The  Reboot Foundation  provides a simpler, more contemporary definition: 

“We define critical thinking broadly, and we believe it is a type of reflective thought that requires reasoning, logic, and analysis to make choices and understand problems.” 

Most experts agree that there are two dimensions to critical thinking:

• Skills, or abilities which can be taught ( such as  analysis, inference, evaluation, self-regulation).
• Dispositions, or attitudes, which can be developed ( such as  being open-minded, fair-minded, suspending judgement, inquisitiveness).

Skills can be more straightforward to teach, and to measure, than dispositions. But critical thinking skills and dispositions are mutually reinforcing, and should be built together. 

One way to explain how critical thinking differs from simply acquiring knowledge is through “Bloom’s Taxonomy”, developed in 1956, and revised to the version below in 2001. The Taxonomy separates out simple memorization of facts, at the base of the pyramid, from the tasks which require progressively more reasoning and reflection: understanding, applying and analyzing knowledge, critically evaluating it and, ultimately, creating new, original work.

Armstrong, P. (2010). Bloom’s Taxonomy. Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. Retrieved 22 October 2024 from  https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/  Used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Why are Critical Thinking Skills Important?

Dewey’s work on critical thinking helped to transform education, from a system built around rote-learning, memorization and repetition of learned facts, to a system which values students’ ability to think for themselves.

Now, critical thinking skills provide an essential basis for future learning. But critical thinking is important for so much more, beyond the classroom. 

Long before the internet or social media, critical thinking was seen as important for the health of democracy.

Now it is recognized as a “ 21 st  century skill ” – the set of abilities and knowledge that are essential for individuals to thrive in the modern world.

When we think about children growing into teenagers, and encountering the tsunami of information, misinformation and disinformation directed to them through social media, equipping our children to grow up as critical thinkers is an essential life skill.

How Can we Help Build the Skills and Mindset for Critical Thinking?

The abilities and attitudes necessary for critical thinking  begin to develop early . By as early as age 3, children understand that people sometimes communicate inaccurate information, and that some individuals are more reliable sources than others.

And the critical thinking journey never really stops: it is part of early childhood education, throughout the school years, life outside the classroom, and at the university level, where critical thinking can be essential to success.

We have seen that critical thinking is about both skills and mindset. The best way to support critical thinking is to work on both acquiring the skills necessary for critical thinking (e.g. analysis, inference, evaluation, self-regulation), and encouraging the attitudes needed to think critically (e.g. being open minded, fair minded, and curious).

This can be practiced in the learning of subject matter across all subjects, and beyond the classroom, in day to day life. The more that children ask “why?”, the more opportunities there are to support them in their critical thinking journey.

36 Fun Critical Thinking Games and Activities for Kids

Now that we have reflected on what critical thinking is and why it is so important for cognitive development, let’s jump in and start practicing a whole set of engaging and fun activities to help children strengthen these skills and develop a critical thinking mindset.

These activities can be used as building blocks and inspiration, in the classroom and at home. They can be woven in to wider learning, or used as creative ideas to have family conversations at the dinner table.

Fun Simple Critical Thinking Activities for Kids

1. Sorting Objects

Strengthen logical reasoning by encouraging kids to classify items based on attributes like size, color, or shape, helping them identify patterns and make connections.

For example,  ask children to sort a group of buttons of different colors, sizes, and shapes, and then explain the reasoning behind their sorting criteria.

2. Count and Analyze Patterns

Use colored beads to create sequences (e.g., red, blue, red, blue) and ask children to predict what comes next, or to create their own repeating patterns.

3. Find the Odd One Out

Present a group of objects like a banana, an apple, a car, and ask children to identify which one is the odd one out and explain why.

4. Who Am I?

A child thinks of an object, and the others ask yes/no questions to figure it out, such as “Is it something you find outside?” or “Can you eat it?”

5. “What If?” Questions

This type of game encourages curiosity and deeper thinking by exploring open-ended questions, much like the Socratic method, encouraging students to reason and arrive at their own conclusions.

Ask children questions such as:

• What if animals could talk?  How would that change our relationship with them?
• What if there were no rules?  What do you think society would look like?
• What if everyone had the same job?  How would our world look?

6. Story-building with Critical Questions

• Example : Build a short story with a problem, like “The dog is lost,” and ask children to discuss the cause, what steps can be taken to find the dog, and the potential outcomes.

7. Problem-Solving Storybooks

You can use your usual classroom activities and turn them into problem-solving activities. For example, if you’re reading a book like  The Three Little Pigs , you can pause to ask, “What would have happened if the pigs had built their house differently?” This encourages kids to analyze decisions in the plot and think critically about alternative outcomes.

8. Reviewing Evidence (Detective Games)

Create a detective game where children review evidence (footprints, letters) to figure out “who ate the cookies” or another mystery, requiring logical deduction.

Critical Thinking Games & Brain-Teasers

9. Memory Card Games / Matching Card Games

Memory card games are classic games in which children flip over cards to find matching pairs.

Although memory games are more clearly associated with memory skills, they can also support critical thinking by encouraging attention to detail, pattern recognition, and strategic recall of card locations to match pairs efficiently.

For example, instead of flipping cards randomly, kids could start by lifting cards from left to right in each row. This structured approach can help them remember the sequence and location of cards, making it easier to spot matches when a similar card appears later. By developing this strategy, they’re not only improving their memory but also practicing critical thinking through planning and pattern recognition.

10. Scavenger Hunts

To turn a scavenger hunt into a critical thinking activity, add clues that require kids to solve puzzles, interpret riddles, or make inferences to find each item.

For example, instead of simply listing an umbrella, provide clues like “I’m something that keeps you dry in the rain, and you hold me above your head”. You could also add challenges where kids must categorize the items they find by characteristics (like color or texture) or answer questions about why each item might be useful in different situations.

This approach encourages problem-solving, inference, and categorization skills throughout the hunt.

11. Mystery Bag Game

A Mystery Bag game encourages kids to use their senses and deduction skills to identify hidden objects. Place various items in a bag and allow kids to feel each one without looking, prompting them to guess what it is based on texture, shape, or weight. They can ask yes-or-no questions to narrow down possibilities (e.g., “Is it soft?”, “Is it something I can eat? or “Is it something we use every day?”).This activity fosters critical thinking by requiring kids to analyze clues, make inferences, and refine their guesses, enhancing their problem-solving abilities.

12. Puzzle Solving

Puzzles can boost logical thinking and problem-solving skills by encouraging kids to find solutions through trial, error, and reasoning.

13. Sudoku (Simple)

Sudoku is another great puzzle game that promotes logic, pattern recognition, and problem-solving for children of all ages.

The game can be tailored to various skill levels, making it suitable for all ages: the easiest grids start with a 4×4 layout, perfect for younger kids who are just beginning to explore logical reasoning.

For a fun twist, you don’t even need to use numbers! Simple shapes or colors can replace numbers to create a kid-friendly version, allowing younger children to solve puzzles with familiar objects while developing their reasoning skills.

I’ve included a fun, simple Sudoku activity in your download at the end of this post that younger kids will love.

14. Mystery Number Games

Give a series of clues, like “I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 10, and it’s not even,” and have children ask questions to deduce the number.

15. Logic Riddles or Brain Teasers

Riddles and Puzzles are a fun way to present a mental challenge to kids.   They are widely available in puzzle books and logic activity books for children.

Examples of riddles:

• “What has keys but can’t open locks?” and have children reason out the answer by thinking about the word “piano.”
• “I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?” (this one is echo, in case you didn’t guess it)

16. Lateral Thinking Puzzles . 

Lateral thinking puzzles are puzzles designed to challenge traditional thinking patterns by encouraging creative, outside-the-box solutions. Instead of straightforward logic, these puzzles require unconventional reasoning and unique perspectives, pushing kids to think beyond obvious answers.

For example, a lateral thinking puzzle might present a scenario where only by reinterpreting or reframing details can the solution be found, such as:

• “A man walks into a town on Friday, stays for three days, and leaves on Friday. How is this possible?”(Answer: The man’s horse is named Friday.)

17. Logic Grid Puzzles

Logic grid puzzles are brain-teasers that involve filling in a grid based on a set of clues to determine relationships between different categories or items.

For instance, you might have a puzzle about three friends, each with a different pet, favorite color, and favorite food. Using the clues provided (e.g., “The person with the cat doesn’t like pizza”), you can eliminate possibilities and make connections until all categories align correctly.

These puzzles develop critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills, as solvers must analyze the clues, make inferences, and systematically rule out options to find the solution.

Your free Critical Thinking Worksheets download, at the end of this post, also includes an example of a logic grid puzzle.

18. Maze Challenges

Provide a printed maze and ask children to solve it by choosing the correct path, discussing their strategy for avoiding dead ends and reaching the goal.

Our next two activities are classic strategy games that promote strategic planning and evaluation:

Chess is a timeless game of strategy, widely available both digitally and physically in educational formats. Set up a chessboard and teach children the basic moves, then have them play a game where they practice planning several moves ahead, anticipating their opponent’s strategy. 

20. Checkers

Checkers is another, simpler strategy board game. Play a simple game of checkers with a child, encouraging them to think one or two moves ahead to capture pieces and block their opponent.

21. Role-Playing Games 

Role-playing games (RPGs) are games where players assume the roles of specific characters, often in a fictional or fantastical setting, and make decisions that shape the story or world around them. In RPGs, players use imagination and creativity to develop characters with unique abilities, personalities, and goals, often collaborating to solve challenges or quests.

There are different types of RPGs, such as:

• Tabletop RPGs  (e.g.,  Dungeons & Dragons ), where players narrate actions and decisions guided by a game master.
• Live-action RPGs (LARPs) , where players physically act out their characters’ actions.
• Video Game RPGs  (e.g.,  Final Fantasy , – although note that while previous editions have been mostly young teen-friendly, some editions are rated M / R13. For fully kid-friendly video RPGs, you check out  Starport or Kids on Bikes.

RPGs, like tabletop and video game formats, can be safe and valuable for teaching critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity, with a few guidelines:

• Age-Appropriate Content : Choose RPGs with themes and language suitable for the classroom.
• Screen Time : Balance video game use with other activities to avoid excessive exposure.
• Safety in Live-Action : For LARPs, set clear boundaries to ensure a safe environment.
• Classroom-Friendly RPGs :  No Thank You, Evil!  and  Rory’s Story Cubes  promote storytelling and problem-solving.
• Educational RPGs :  Classcraft  uses RPG quests to support learning goals and teamwork.
• Simple Role-Playing Activities : Use history or science scenarios to bring content to life through role-play.

22. Escape Rooms

Participating in a  escape room  activity is an excellent way for older students to practice critical thinking skills.  Participants are locked inside a themed room and must work together to solve puzzles, find clues, and accomplish tasks within a given time limit in order to “escape” from the room. Escape rooms are great team-building games and promote critical thinking through:

• Problem-Solving : Players must analyze clues, recognize patterns, and piece together information to advance.
• Logical Reasoning : Each puzzle builds on the next, requiring logical deduction to understand how clues relate.
• Analytical Skills : Players break down complex information, assess details carefully, and synthesize clues to solve each step
• Teamwork : Players need to communicate effectively, share ideas, and build on each other’s strengths to solve complex problems together.
• Time Management : The time constraint encourages quick thinking and prioritizing.

Let’s also explore some educational games and activities!

Critical Thinking Activities for the Classroom

23. Improvised Building Activity (STEM – Science Activity )

Provide children with a box of mixed-up items like straws, paper clips, and rubber bands, and ask them to build a structure that can hold a small toy car, encouraging problem-solving.

24. Guess the Cause and Effect / Scientific Inquiry Activities

Engage kids to explore relationships by predicting outcomes, testing hypotheses, and observing results, strengthening their understanding of cause and effect through hands-on discovery.

Some cause-effect activity examples:

• Sink or Float : Have kids predict whether various objects (like a coin, sponge, or apple) will sink or float, then test each item in water and observe the outcomes.
• Plant Growth Experiment 1 : Plant seeds in different conditions (sunlight vs. darkness or water vs. no water) and have kids guess which plants will grow best, tracking progress over time.
• Plant Growth Experiment 2:  Show kids a plant that’s wilting and ask, “What do you think is happening here?” Let them suggest reasons like “It needs water” or “It’s too sunny,” and then test their hypothesis.
• Ball Drop Test : Ask kids to predict which will bounce the highest, a tennis ball, basketball, or a bouncy ball. Then perform the experiment by dropping them from the same height, to see if their predictions were correct.

25. Simple Coding (Logic-Based)

Use a coding game like “Scratch Jr.” to have children sequence blocks to make a character move in a specific direction, reinforcing the concept of logic and order. Some examples of other coding apps for kids are Scratch, Code.org, or Tynker.

26. Facts vs. Opinion (Worksheet)

Fact vs. Opinion activities help kids learn to tell the difference between objective truths and personal viewpoints, which is essential for critical thinking. By distinguishing facts—things that can be proven true—from opinions, which reflect personal feelings or beliefs, kids become better at evaluating information.

These activities teach them to look for evidence, question sources and understand that not everything they hear or read is a fact, which is a valuable skill in everyday decision-making and understanding of the world around them.

You can download a simple Facts vs Opinion activity to add to your critical thinking classroom games at the end of this article.

27. Observation Journals

Observation Journals  are a great critical thinking exercise, encouraging kids to record daily observations and reflect on details in their surroundings. This practice sharpens mindfulness, enhances analytical skills, and prompts kids to notice patterns, make connections, and express unique perspectives.

Observation journals can include prompts like, “What did you notice on your way to school?” or “Describe something interesting you saw today.”

This versatile activity can be used for nature walks, scientific observations, or even social settings, making it a fun and educational habit.

28. Simple Flowcharts

Simple Flowcharts  are an excellent tool for helping kids visualize steps in a process, enhancing their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Creating flowcharts teaches them to break down tasks into manageable parts, understand sequences, make logical connections between actions, and practice decision-making. This exercise can be used for anything from illustrating everyday life routines to mapping out decision-making steps.

This is an example of what a flow chart for “deciding what to do after school” could look like:

• If  Yes  → Go to Step 2
• If  No  → Start Homework
• If  Yes  → Go to Step 3
• If  No  → Complete Chores
• If  Yes  → Go Outside
• If  No  → Go to Step 4
• If  Read  → Read Book
• If  Game  → Play Game

29. Problem Solving Activities

Give kids a problem (for example, “How do I fix this broken toy”, and    ask them to evaluate different possible solutions, such as glue, tape, or replacing parts.)

Guide them through the problem-solving process:

• Identifying the problem (what has happened?)
• Analyzing the problem (how did it happen?)
• Generating potential solutions or strategies to address the problem.
• Evaluating all possible solutions (Pros and Cons Analysis)
• Selecting the best solution based on their analysis and judgment.
• Implementing the best solution
• Monitoring progress and results
• Reviewing and evaluating the outcomes and making adjustments if necessary.

Other resources: Problem-solving workbook for kids

Debates are a fantastic way to encourage creative thinking and help kids understand different perspectives on real-world problems. By arguing for or against a topic, students learn to consider and respect diverse viewpoints, building skills in critical analysis and the curiosity and flexibility needed for problem-solving.

Divide students into groups, and randomly allocate the teams that will defend either position. 

Here’s a list of five debate topics that would work well for a team pro/con structure:

• Should kids have homework every day?
• Would it be it better to have a longer summer break, or shorter school days year-round?
• Should schools ban junk food from the cafeteria?
• Is it better to learn from books or through technology?
• Should animals be kept in zoos?
• Should kids be allowed to have smartphones?

31. Classification Game

Present a set of mixed-up objects (e.g., animals, plants, objects) and ask children to categorize them into specific groups (e.g., mammals, plants, machines).

32. Predicting Changes in an Ecosystem

This activity involves analyzing data or observing patterns to make educated guesses about how an ecosystem might evolve under certain conditions. This can help students understand cause and effect within natural systems, fostering critical thinking about environmental science and ecology.

For example, create a small ecosystem using plants and animals (real or artificial) and ask children what would happen if a new element was introduced, such as removing one species or adding a new one. ed: suggest plants and insects. Creating an ecosystem with animals is a big ask!

33. Making Predictions from Data

Making Predictions from Data  is a real-world activity that teaches students to analyze patterns and trends to make informed guesses about future outcomes. By examining data, whether from a simple weather chart or a survey on favorite foods, students learn to interpret information, identify trends, and develop critical thinking skills. This activity can be used in various subjects, helping students understand how data supports decision-making in everyday life.

For example, give students data on the number of books read by their classmates each month. They notice that book reading increased steadily from September to December. Based on this trend, ask them to predict how many books will be read in January and discuss possible reasons for the increase, like cooler weather or reading challenges.

34. Comparing and Contrasting Items

Comparing and Contrasting  is a key critical thinking activity that helps students explore similarities and differences between topics, ideas, or items. This skill can be applied to anything from everyday choices to analyzing historical events, comparing characters in a story, or understanding scientific concepts. An effective activity is to have students compare items they might want to buy, like two different backpacks or tablets. By evaluating features, prices, and quality, they practice making informed decisions, building both analytical and decision-making skills.

35. Analyze a News Article

Provide a simple news article on current affairs and ask children to identify the key points of that particular situation, evaluate the reliability of the sources, and discuss what actions they might take if they were involved in the situation. This activity builds critical thinking by encouraging them to reflect on real-world events and consider different perspectives.

36. Make a Decision Matrix

A  Decision Matrix  is a tool that helps students evaluate multiple options by rating each one based on specific criteria. It’s a grid where options are listed on one side, criteria on the other, and each option is scored to find the best choice. This encourages critical thinking and teaches students to make thoughtful, balanced decisions by considering all aspects of a problem.

• Students are deciding on a class project, they can list options (like a science experiment, art display, or community service) and criteria (interest level, resources needed, time required) to help choose the best fit.
• Families choosing a pet may weigh options like size, cost, care requirements, and activity level.

Incorporating critical thinking activities in the classroom is a powerful way to nurture young minds. These exercises build essential  cognitive skills  and help kids become inquisitive, confident thinkers.

Other Cognitive Abilities Resources & Articles

• Fun Problem-Solving Workbook for Kids
• 25 Problem-Solving Activities for Kids
• 57 Memory Activities for Kids
• 30 Focus & Attention Activities for Kids

Critical Thinking Worksheets for Kids (PDF Download)

Your critical thinking worksheets include the following activities:

• Fun Shapes Sudoku
• Fact vs Opinion 
• Debate Activity

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Critical Thinking Activities for Preschoolers

Written by: Kokotree

Last updated: October 16, 2022

K ids are sponges. They soak up information and learn new things every day, whether we realize it or not! One of the best things we can do as parents are to help foster our children’s natural ability to think critically by providing engaging critical thinking activities for preschoolers.

What is Critical Thinking for Preschoolers?

Why teach preschoolers critical thinking, how to teach preschoolers critical thinking, here’s a list of critical thinking activities suitable for preschoolers:, the importance of predictions, the observation phase, discussing results, reading to complement experiments, the takeaway for parents, toy scenarios, relational language, drawing maps, real-world applications, parental involvement, starting simple, adding complexity, story-based patterning, encourage observations, parent tips, fold and cut, mirror images, symmetry in nature, question and understand, what parents should know, picture cards, daily routines, storytime sequencing, cooking together, parent’s role, a skill for life, animal sorting, food categories, color coding, advanced classifying, ask questions, skill building, simple pairings, attribute matching, word pairings, “what doesn’t belong”, ask open-ended questions, why analogies matter, mixed criteria, question and discuss, importance for cognitive development, basic counting with objects, count and compare, counting games, skip counting, the “guess the number” game, subtraction and addition, why counting matters, using everyday scenarios, hands-on activities, beyond just numbers, make it a game, questions to prompt thinking, importance in daily life.

Critical thinking for preschoolers refers to their ability to process information independently, make connections, reason, and make well-thought-out decisions. It involves encouraging curiosity, asking questions, and understanding the “why” behind concepts.

Teaching critical thinking to preschoolers is essential as it fosters independence, boosts problem-solving skills, and prepares them for future academic and life challenges. It also enhances their creativity, adaptability, and ability to navigate complex situations.

To teach preschoolers critical thinking, introduce open-ended questions, provide hands-on experiences, encourage curiosity, engage in storytelling, promote problem-solving activities, and create an environment where they feel safe to express ideas and make mistakes.

• Sorting and Categorizing : Provide a mix of objects and have them sort them by various attributes (color, size, shape, texture).
• Story Sequencing : Use picture cards to tell a story and ask them to arrange them in the correct order.
• What’s Missing? Game : Set up a few items, let the child study them, then remove one when they aren’t looking and ask which one is missing.
• Pattern Recognition : Use colored blocks or beads to create a pattern and have them continue it.
• Cause and Effect Experiments : Simple experiments like “What happens when you drop a ball?” or “What happens if you put paper in water?”
• True or False Questions : A type of assessment where learners decide whether a given statement is accurate, often used to test knowledge on specific facts or concepts quickly.
• Memory Games : Classic games like ‘Simon says’ or matching card games.
• Question of the Day: Start the day with an open-ended question like, “Why is the sky blue?” or “How do plants grow?”
• Role Play : Encourage them to act out different scenarios, which helps in understanding different perspectives.
• Building Challenges: Using blocks or LEGO, set a challenge like “Can you build a bridge?” or “Make a house with a garage.”
• Problem Solving Scenarios: Give them hypothetical problems to solve, like “What would you do if your toy broke?” or “How can you share three apples with four friends?”
• Picture Interpretation: Show them a complex picture and ask open-ended questions about what they see, think, and wonder.
• Mystery Bag: Put an object in a bag and have them feel it without looking, then guess what it is.
• Puzzle Time: Regular puzzles are great for problem-solving and spatial recognition.
• Would you Rather Questions : Fun scenarios like “Would you rather be a fish or a bird?” This encourages reasoning and justification.
• Exploring Nature: Nature walks where they can observe, question, and learn about the environment.
• Music Exploration: Play different types of music and discuss how each one makes them feel.
• Story Creation: Give them a start, like “There’s a dragon in the garden…” and let them continue.
• Sensory Bins : Bins filled with sand, water beads, rice, or other materials where they can explore, measure, and experiment.
• Group Discussions: After a story or activity, discuss as a group what happened, why, and what might happen next.
• Prediction Activities: Activities where they predict what might happen next, whether in a story or a simple experiment.

Integrating these activities into a preschooler’s daily routine will help foster an environment of curiosity, exploration, and deepened understanding.

Science Experiments

Science experiments offer a unique avenue for diving into critical thinking activities for kids. Let’s break down how you can turn simple experiments into a world of exploration and reasoning for your little one.

Before starting any experiment, ask your child to make a prediction. Whether it’s guessing what color will result from mixing two paints or what will happen when you add salt to ice, predictions engage your child’s anticipatory skills.

While performing the experiment and science activity , encourage your child to observe keenly. What do they see, smell, or hear? Encourage them to note these observations down or share them with you. This engages their senses and promotes active learning during preschool .

After the experiment, sit down with your child and discuss what happened. Compare their initial predictions with the actual results. Did something unexpected happen? Great! This is a fantastic moment to introduce the concept of ’cause and effect,’ a cornerstone in critical thinking for preschoolers.

Consider pairing these experiments with related books. Reading material can help cement the scientific concepts you’ve explored, making the learning experience well-rounded.

Your role is crucial. The questions you ask and the encouragement you give can transform a simple science experiment into a treasure trove of critical thinking activities. It’s not just about the ‘doing’; it’s also about the ‘thinking’ that goes along with it.

By taking the time to prepare, observe, and discuss, you’re not just teaching science but instilling critical thinking skills that will last a lifetime.

Spatial Relationships

Understanding spatial relationships is a key aspect of critical thinking preschool activities. Not only does this skill lay the groundwork for geometry and other advanced math concepts, but it also helps your child navigate through the world more effectively. So, how can you turn understanding spatial relationships into a critical thinking exercise for your preschooler?

Start by engaging your child with simple toy scenarios. For example, provide your child with a toy car and present a challenge: Can they position the car “under” the table or “next to” a book? This forces them to think critically about space and how different objects relate.

In these spatial activities , the language you use is crucial. Words like “under,” “over,” “next to,” “behind,” and “in front of” enrich their vocabulary and conceptual understanding. Make a game out of it; ask them to place their toy “beside” the couch, then “beneath” a chair, and so on.

Drawing simple maps can also be a fun way to explore spatial relationships. You and your child can draw a map of a room in your house or even a treasure map. This helps your child think critically about space on a two-dimensional scale.

Use real-world situations to apply these concepts. For example, you could ask your child to help you find the shortest path from the car to the entrance of a store. This engages them in problem-solving and turns an everyday task into a critical thinking game for kids.

Your involvement is essential. The prompts you give and the questions you ask can be geared towards understanding the reasoning behind their choices. Why did they think the car should go “under” the table and not “on top of it”? Their answers can offer insightful glimpses into their thought processes.

Integrating these activities into your child’s routine provides essential tools for their cognitive development. It’s not just about understanding spatial relationships; it’s about setting the foundation for logical reasoning and problem-solving—skills that are vital for future learning.

Patterning is an enjoyable and instructive way to introduce activities to develop critical thinking skills in preschoolers. Recognizing and creating patterns help children understand order and make predictions, essential skills for both math and everyday life. So how can you engage your child in patterning activities?

Begin with straightforward activities. Give your child a set of blocks in different colors or shapes and ask them to arrange them in a simple pattern, like “red-blue-red-blue” or “circle-square-circle-square.

You can introduce more complex ones as they get comfortable with simpler patterns. For example, try a pattern that involves more than two colors or shapes, like “red-blue-green-red-blue-green.”

To make it more engaging, try creating a story around the pattern. Maybe the colored blocks are “cars in a parade” or “fruits in a basket.” Stories make the patterns more relatable and help in creating a rich context around what might otherwise be an abstract concept.

After your child has made a pattern, ask them to describe it to you. What do they see? What comes next? Why? This forces them to articulate their thought process, thereby improving both their language and critical thinking skills.

Your involvement in these patterning activities amplifies their effectiveness. Ask open-ended questions like, “Why did you choose to put the red block there?” or “What do you think comes next?” Your questions can guide them through the reasoning process, making these exercises not just patterning activities but also reasoning activities for preschoolers.

By incorporating patterning into playtime, you’re doing more than teaching colors and shapes; you’re instilling the ability to recognize relationships between objects—a skill that forms the basis of logical reasoning and critical thought.

Symmetry is not just an aesthetic concept; it’s a brilliant way to cultivate critical thinking in preschoolers. When children recognize or create symmetrical objects or arrangements, they’re learning about balance, equality, and relational properties—core elements in critical thinking preschool activities . Here’s how you can engage your child with symmetry.

The easiest way to start is by folding a piece of paper in half and cutting shapes along the folded edge. When you unfold the paper, you’ll have a symmetrical shape. Ask your child what they notice about the two halves. Are they the same or different? Why?

Another activity is to place a small divider between two identical sets of blocks. Build a pattern or shape with one set and ask your child to replicate it as a mirror image using the other set of blocks. This not only teaches symmetry but also enhances their observational skills.

Take a nature walk and ask your child to find examples of symmetry, like leaves, flowers, or even animals. Discuss what makes these objects symmetrical. This offers a more dynamic, interactive approach to understanding symmetry and engages them in critical thinking games for kids.

As always, your involvement and the questions you ask can bring depth to the activity. Why is it easier to find symmetry in some objects than in others? Why do they think symmetry exists in nature? These questions prompt deeper thinking and understanding.

Symmetry activities are more than just a game; they provide a foundation for more complex mathematical concepts like geometry. Furthermore, they encourage your child to think about balance and fairness, abstract concepts that have real-world applications.

Symmetry activities offer a multi-faceted approach to critical thinking for preschoolers, combining math, nature, and everyday observations into a rich tapestry of learning experiences.

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Sequencing is an invaluable exercise that aids in developing a wide range of skills, from language and literacy to logic and problem-solving. This makes it one of the must-try critical thinking activities for preschoolers. Below are some ways you can approach sequencing with your child:

Start simple by using a set of picture cards that tell a story. Scatter them and ask your child to place them in a logical order. This helps them understand the concept of beginnings, middles, and ends, crucial for both storytelling and understanding sequences in daily life.

Use everyday routines as an opportunity for sequencing activities. Whether it’s getting dressed, preparing a simple snack, or cleaning up toys, ask your child to describe the sequence of actions needed to complete these tasks. This not only cements their understanding of everyday activities but also naturally integrates critical thinking into their day.

During storytime, pause to ask your child what they think will happen next or what came before a specific event. Encourage them to explain their reasoning. This turns storytime into an exercise in prediction and recall, both important components of sequencing and critical thinking for preschoolers.

Involve your child in simple cooking or baking activities . Ask them to describe the sequence of steps involved in the recipe. This not only helps in understanding sequencing but also incorporates elements of measurement and timing, adding layers to their critical thinking skills.

Your role is to facilitate and challenge. Ask questions like, “What will happen if we change the order of these steps?” or “Why do you think this comes after that?” By doing so, you’re transforming simple sequencing activities into deeper reasoning activities for preschoolers.

Sequencing isn’t just for stories or games; it’s a skill your child will use in academic settings and everyday life. By incorporating sequencing into various activities, you’re providing your child with a toolbox of skills for organizing information, problem-solving, and critically thinking about the world around them.

Classifying

The ability to classify and categorize is fundamental to human cognition and an excellent entry point for critical thinking preschool activities. Classifying allows children to make sense of the world by grouping items based on shared characteristics or qualities. Here are some ways to involve your preschooler in classifying activities:

One of the most engaging ways to introduce classification is through animals. Provide your child with a set of toy animals and ask them to group them by various criteria: type (mammals, birds, reptiles), habitat (water, land, air), or even by the number of legs. This exercise not only enhances their understanding of biology but also hones their observation and reasoning skills.

Another fun activity involves sorting food items. You could give your child a mix of plastic fruits, vegetables, and junk food items and ask them to separate them into corresponding categories. This also serves as a great opportunity to discuss healthy eating habits .

For younger children, color can be the most straightforward attribute to classify. Offer them an assortment of beads, blocks, or other multi-colored items and ask them to sort these based on color. This is a simple yet effective exercise in classification.

As your child becomes more proficient, you can introduce multiple levels of classification. For example, they could first sort animals by type and then sort those types by size or diet. This adds layers to their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Remember, your involvement is crucial. Asking questions like, “Why did you decide to group these together?” or “What makes these items similar or different?” can deepen their understanding and turn the activity into a rich discussion. This elevates it from a mere exercise into a critical thinking game for kids.

Classification activities offer much more than just an understanding of categories. They help build logical thinking, improve vocabulary, and can even introduce basic scientific concepts. These are all essential stepping stones in developing robust critical thinking skills for your preschooler.

By regularly incorporating classifying exercises into your child’s playtime, you are actively helping them construct a framework for understanding the world in a more organized and logical manner.

Analogies are one of the more advanced yet highly effective critical thinking activities for kids. They challenge children to identify relationships between disparate things by finding a common thread. While it may seem like a complex skill, it can be broken down into simpler components for preschoolers to understand. Here’s how to make analogies an accessible and engaging activity for your little one.

Begin with objects that are obviously related but different, like an apple and an orange. Ask your child to explain how they are similar or different. The goal is to get them thinking about attributes that aren’t immediately obvious, like the fact that both are fruits despite differing in color, taste, and texture.

Provide your child with a collection of assorted items and ask them to match them based on one common attribute. For example, a spoon and a fork could be matched because they’re both utensils, even though one is used for scooping and the other for piercing food.

As your child becomes more comfortable with the concept, move on to word-based analogies. You could start with opposites like hot/cold or day/night. Ask your child what makes these pairs opposites and to think of other examples.

A fun twist on analogies is the “What doesn’t belong?” game. Present your child with a group of three or four items where one item is notably different. Ask them to identify the odd one out and explain why it doesn’t belong. This game turns analogies into critical thinking games for kids that are both educational and engaging.

As always, your participation enhances the activity. Ask open-ended questions like, “Why do you think these two are alike?” or “Can you think of other things that are similar in this way?” These questions encourage a deeper exploration of the concept, making it an excellent activity to develop critical thinking skills.

Analogies help build a variety of skills including vocabulary, reasoning abilities, and problem-solving skills. They encourage children to make connections between different pieces of information, a critical skill not just in academic settings but in everyday decision-making.

By incorporating analogies into your routine, you help your child develop an essential tool for interpreting the world around them, boosting their critical thinking and cognitive abilities.

Sorting and Categorizing

Sorting and categorizing activities are foundational for preschool-aged children and serve as a cornerstone for developing critical thinking skills. They not only help kids recognize patterns but also teach them how to make educated judgments. Here’s how you can make sorting and categorizing a fun and enlightening experience for your little one.

Sorting by shape is one of the simplest ways to begin. Provide your child with an array of different shapes like circles, squares, and triangles. You can use household items like buttons, blocks, or even cut-out paper shapes. Ask your child to separate these items into different piles based on their shapes.

Colors offer another straightforward criterion for sorting. You can use colored balls, beads, or toys and ask your child to group them based on their color. This is a simple but effective way to get children to focus on characteristics, thereby introducing them to the basics of categorization.

Sorting by size provides a slightly more advanced challenge and introduces the concept of relativity. Give your child a mix of big and small objects, and ask them to sort them into ‘big’ and ‘small’ groups. As they get better at this, you can introduce medium-sized items for a greater challenge.

As your child becomes more proficient, you can make the activity more complex by mixing criteria. For instance, they can sort by both color and size, creating groups of small red items, large red items, small blue items, and so on. This type of multi-criteria sorting is a great way to sharpen their critical thinking abilities.

Make sure to ask questions during these activities. Queries like, “Why did you put this here?” or “What makes these two items the same?” promote reasoning and dialogue. You can thereby elevate sorting and categorizing from a simple task to one of the essential critical thinking activities for preschoolers.

Sorting and categorizing lay the groundwork for mathematical concepts and logical reasoning. These activities train the mind to identify, compare, and analyze objects based on specific characteristics, making them powerful tools in shaping a child’s cognitive abilities.

Sorting and categorizing can be as simple or as complex as you make them, but their benefits for critical thinking and overall cognitive development are immense. By incorporating these activities into your child’s routine, you’re setting the stage for more complex intellectual feats as they grow.

Counting may appear to be a simple skill, but it’s much more than just reciting numbers. It’s a fundamental aspect of early education that sets the stage for more advanced math and critical thinking skills. Here’s how to make counting a multifaceted learning experience for your preschooler.

Start with the basics by using everyday objects like toys, fruits, or even items in a room. Ask your child to count them and tell you how many there are in total. This not only teaches them to associate numbers with quantities but also introduces them to the concept of ‘totality’—an important foundational idea for future math skills.

Once your child can count confidently, introduce them to the concept of comparing quantities. Place two groups of objects in front of them and ask questions like, “Which group has more?” or “How many more cars are there than trucks?” This introduces them to the skill of evaluating quantities, an essential part of critical thinking.

Turn counting into critical thinking games for kids. Whether it’s counting the number of steps in a staircase as they climb or counting the number of red cars they see while on a drive, games make the counting process engaging and fun.

As your child becomes more proficient, you can introduce the concept of skip counting—counting by twos, fives, or tens. This helps them understand multiplication at an early age and strengthens their number sense, paving the way for more complex math skills.

For a fun twist, you can play the “Guess the Number” game where you think of a number within a range they can understand, and they have to guess it. This helps them understand the concepts of ‘greater than’ and ‘less than,’ valuable tools for reasoning activities for preschoolers.

Simple addition and subtraction can also be introduced through counting. For example, you can start with five apples, take two away, and then ask how many are left. Or you could add two more and ask how many there are now. This helps your child understand the principles of arithmetic in a hands-on manner.

Counting isn’t just a math skill; it’s a critical thinking skill. It lays the groundwork for understanding more complex relationships between numbers and fosters logical reasoning skills that will be crucial in later stages of education.

By incorporating these various counting activities into your child’s routine, you’ll be helping them develop not just their ability to count but also their critical thinking abilities, making it a quintessential activity for their cognitive development.

Comparing Quantities

The ability to compare and contrast different quantities is not just a math skill; it’s one of the important activities to develop critical thinking skills. This skill helps children understand relationships between different sets, a critical component for problem-solving and logical reasoning. Here are some ways to explore this concept with your preschooler.

Begin with two sets of clearly different quantities. For instance, you could use four apples and two oranges. Ask your child to point out which set has more and which has fewer items. Reinforce the terms “more,” “less,” and “equal” to build their comparative vocabulary.

Use day-to-day experiences to create comparative situations. For example, you could ask, “Are there more people in the living room or the kitchen?” or “Do we have more forks or more spoons?” These questions not only hone their observational skills but also make them critically evaluate their surroundings.

Use toys or building blocks to physically create sets of different quantities. Ask your child to compare them. This hands-on approach can make abstract concepts more concrete for young minds.

Expand the concept of comparison beyond mere numerical quantities. For instance, ask them to compare the heights of different family members , the size of different rooms, or the loudness of different sounds. This broadens the scope of comparison and enhances their critical thinking skills.

Introduce critical thinking games for kids that focus on comparing quantities. For example, play a game where they have to divide a set of toys among siblings or friends, ensuring everyone gets an “equal” number. This not only reinforces the concept of comparison but also introduces the idea of fairness.

Always remember to ask follow-up questions. Inquire, “How did you know this set has more?” or “What makes you think there are fewer blocks here?” This encourages them to articulate their thought process, deepening their understanding and reasoning abilities.

Understanding the skill of comparing quantities is essential in daily decision-making. It aids in evaluating choices and in forming reasoned judgments. Therefore, it is an indispensable skill, relevant not just as a form of critical thinking for preschoolers but as a life skill.

Teaching your child to compare quantities provides them with the tools to make better decisions, solve problems , and navigate the world more effectively. It’s a cornerstone activity in developing their overall cognitive abilities.

Overall, preschoolers can engage in many different critical thinking activities to help develop their cognitive abilities . By providing your child with opportunities to learn, explore, and think critically, you can help them become more confident and capable learners throughout their lives!

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Nurturing Critical Thinking Skills in Preschoolers: Engaging Activities and Games

• By MontsAdm
• August 20, 2021
• No Comments

2.  Inculcate Creativity

A creative day can help kids improve their critical thinking skills. It is a day in which children will be given a list of ideas and activities to achieve their goals. Activities that are related to the topic of the week or projects that are related to school. For example, if your child wants to learn about outer space, then they can make a craft about it in class or create several ideas for an art project during the week.

3.  Teach Cause and Effect

One way of developing critical thinking is to  show kids how causes lead to effects . This way, the kids will learn how different factors influence a single situation or issue and how important it is to consider each factor when analyzing. For instance, if a tree falls on your house and knocks your roof off, they should evaluate the factors that led to this effect. It will teach them that the wind blew too hard or too much rain, so the tree fell due to these factors. Making sense of different events in their lives using cause and effect helps them develop their critical thinking skills.

4.  Encourage Thinking

Encourage your kid to think of answers to their questions. If they ask you a question, try to guide them to find the answers on their own. You can give them hints about where to look for the answers, like using the internet or asking other adults, but you should let them learn to formulate an answer independently. This way, they will be more inclined to think of answers and develop their critical thinking skills.

5.  Allow Them to Hypothesize

Ask your kids to create hypotheses about what will happen. Then ask them to assess how likely it is that their hypothesis is correct. This way, they can think of possibilities and learn  how to develop a strong hypothesis  using facts. It also involves testing their hypothesis and coming up with a logical conclusion based on the results. A hypothesis is created when there is a need for solving a problem based on evidence or observation. For example, if children want to know what will happen if they don’t brush their teeth for one week, they can hypothesize that the effects of not brushing their teeth for one week will be harmful because they might get a bad breath or tooth decay.

6.  Improve Memory and Observation Skills

Having good memory and observation skills is essential for all kids, but these skills are effective tools for developing critical thinking skills. For example, if you give your child a list of different items, ask them to find the item you’re looking for. It will help your kid improve their memory. Or, if you want them to develop their observation skills, tell them about the things around your house and ask them what color they are and how they are different from each other. They should be able to use their observed skills on various objects like toys, and it will also help them determine what colors match best with each other.

7.  Let them Play Games

Boredom leads kids to lose interest, but fun can help them cultivate critical thinking skills.  Keep your child entertained  with various games and activities that stimulate their mind and help them develop good motor skills and problem-solving abilities. For example, your kids can play brain teasers, a logic game called connect four, or a word search and  imagination gameplay  like Hide and Seek. These games help children increase their concentration span and focus. Thus, improve their thinking abilities.

8.  Board Games

Board games are excellent ways to help kids develop critical thinking skills because they make decisions based on different factors. For example, they will have to use their analytical skills to determine where they will move next and the probability of winning the game. Then, they have to reach their final destination by rolling the dice and making decisions based on different factors like the number on the dice and its relation to their surroundings.

9.  Read

Reading is an excellent way of improving critical thinking skills in kids, especially if they want to become writers one day or become good at writing essays.  Reading different kinds of books  will help them with their reading and writing skills and improve their critical thinking abilities and logical thinking.

10.  Use Question and Answer

Different kinds of questions can help kids develop their critical thinking skills. For example, ask them questions like “Why is it so?” or “What do you think will happen if…?” to get them to think about the situation. Then, when they answer, ask them to explain how they got to that point and see if they understand the situation. If not, ask them why they do not understand a particular situation.

Critical thinking skills improve when children are taught to see the world around them with different perspectives and make better decisions by considering the various possibilities.

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Fun activities for developing critical thinking skills in preschoolers

Inside: Critical thinking preschool worksheets to download for free!

Problem-solving and critical thinking are important skills children in preschool need to develop in order to succeed in school.

Include these critical thinking preschool worksheets in your curriculum to give them enough opportunities for practice.

You might also like my brand new Things that don’t belong worksheets !

Critical thinking preschool worksheets

Whether you are taking a walk outside or reading a book together with your child, there are always opportunities to practice critical thinking.

For instance, encourage your child to look for repeating patterns, for similarities and differences between objects and so on. The more they understand the world around them the better they will be able to generalize and utilize the knowledge in more complex situations.

To provide you with some pen and paper exercises, I’ve created these critical thinking preschool worksheets.

Feel free to use them in the classroom or at home.

And make sure to expand on your child’s answers. Ask her more about each group of pictures, why they belong/don’t belong together, and so forth.

To download, just click on the download link at the very end.

Similar: Things that go together worksheets

Feel free to use these worksheets in the classroom or at home. But please remember that any other re-distribution or altering are not allowed. Thank you. 

Critical thinking skills

7 thoughts on “Fun activities for developing critical thinking skills in preschoolers”

Hey Kristina, thanks. My 5 years old found it really interesting. Do you have more?

Not the same kind of activities. But it’s a good idea to create more like these, I will add them to my to-do list!

Hey Kristina, Thank you so much for the resources. I have a 1st grader with special needs and am always at a loss for what to do to supplimet our schools amazing special ed departments at home. Your worksheets are life savers!

I am happy to help!

Kristina, thanks for saving our kids from non-stop TV and boredom thanks to your great print-outs these days!!!

Lol, you’re welcome! I know it’s hard to constantly entertain them at home. My two boys are the same. All the best to you!

Very interesting Kristina..Thank you for this Materials I used them with my 4 year old daughter!!!!☺💖

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Parent Resources for Learning > How It Begins > 6 Simple Ways to Support Critical Thinking for Ages 2-6 and Up

6 Simple Ways to Support Critical Thinking for Ages 2-6 and Up

by Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos | Aug 4, 2023 | How It Begins

As parents, we have a LOT to keep in mind to give our kids the best possible start. So it’s nice to come across a skill set that offers a lot of bang for our buck. When it comes to developing skills that have an outsized impact on a child’s life, critical thinking is a great place to start. 

The Short Cut

• Critical thinking is the use of logic, reasoning, and executive functioning skills to analyze information and make sound decisions throughout life
• The ability to think critically matters a lot—it’s linked to better grades, finishing schoolwork, positive job performance, and overall academic success
• Caregivers can do a lot to encourage critical thinking, from family game nights and library visits to asking open-ended questions
• Developing the 5 C’s doesn’t need to be complicated. You can make a big difference in only  15 minutes a day !

It turns out that critical thinking is actually more predictive of some pretty important positive life outcomes than raw intelligence, not to mention it’s a set of skills that are predicted to become increasingly important to CEOs and other employers in the future. 

Given the relative importance of critical thinking, let’s dive into what it is and how we as parents can foster these skills from an early age.

What Is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking covers an expansive range of processing and problem-solving skills. In terms of processing, it includes the abilities needed to regulate our behaviors and accomplish goals. You may sometimes hear those skills referred to as executive functions. They include:

• Working memory (our ability to hold small amounts of information in mind for a short period of time while we work on it in some way, such as recalling a telephone number long enough to dial it)
• Flexible thinking (our ability to focus on one thing at a time, switch to new tasks, and avoid distractions)
• Self-control (our ability to control our behaviors, follow rules, and understand consequences)

If that sounds like a set of skills your child needs, you’re right! Many important childhood tasks (like listening in school or helping with chores at home) rely on executive functioning.

In terms of problem-solving skills, critical thinking includes things like logic and reasoning, our ability to consider multiple perspectives and adapt to new ways of thinking (including computational thinking and coding), and to make decisions based on evidence rather than bias.

Combine all those skills, and you can see that critical thinking is a pretty big deal! There are many good reasons to focus on this important “C.”

The Impacts of Critical Thinking in School and Life

Critical thinking has been linked to very important outcomes in school, life, and the work world, including better grades, higher likelihood of completing schoolwork, positive job performance in the workplace, and overall academic success. In adults, strong critical thinking has even been correlated with less credit card debt.

That’s a lot for one skill set! According to a study by Duke Learning and Organization Development, critical thinking is one of the most in-demand skills in the workplace, and yet nearly half of all employers indicated that their employees are falling short in it, with a LOT of room to improve.

Given how important critical thinking is, it’s reassuring to know that there’s a lot we as caregivers can do to support it in our kids (and that many of those things are fun!), even if we didn’t necessarily receive the same type of critical thinking support growing up. 

Simple Ways to Support Critical Thinking

1. Model Asking Open-Ended Questions. Demonstrating that you as a grown-up are still curious about the world and asking open-ended questions is a great way to show your kids that processing information and making sense of the world around them is a lifelong endeavor.

2. Demonstrate Multiple Perspectives . This one can be tricky, as many of us have strong opinions about the world, but strive to expose your child to multiple perspectives on a wide range of topics so that they open their minds to new ideas, begin to sort through information, get comfortable asking questions, and learn that sometimes things are not black and white.

3. Practice Active Listening . Critical thinking includes having an open mind, so encourage listening without judgment. Active listening might include making eye contact, leaning forward, ensuring you’re not distracted by something else, asking clarifying questions, and having “calm hands and bodies.”

4. Go to the Library . Ask your local librarian to teach you and your child how to search for information using multiple sources, and what to look for when identifying trustworthy, credible sources versus less credible sources. Sometimes it helps for children to hear things from someone other than their parents (it sure does with mine!). 

5. Flex Those Executive Functioning Skills. Family board game nights are a GREAT way to foster many executive functioning skills (like following rules, using working memory, and staying focused). Additionally, you can make a game out of rehearsing and remembering lists of words or objects to strengthen working memory.

6. Learn to Code . Coding might sound too advanced for younger children, but even preschoolers can learn the basics behind many coding and computational thinking skills, like breaking a complex task down into a series of simple actions (sequencing). There are even some programs, like our award-winning codeSpark app , specifically designed for preschoolers and children in early elementary school.

Critical Thinking across Developmental Stages

Depending on your child’s age and unique developmental trajectory, critical thinking might look a little different for them than for someone else. Below are some checklists you can use to consider what aspects of critical thinking you might be observing in your child. 

Remember, every child develops differently, so you may see things that aren’t on these lists, or that are on the list under a different age from your child’s. That’s almost certainly OK, especially given that critical thinking consists of many skills that aren’t necessarily linear. 

Also, these lists are not exhaustive—there are many other skills within critical thinking that you’re likely encountering at each age and stage. But this should give you a sense of what’s developmentally typical and why various skills matter.

2-Year-Old Checklist

Can group like items or objects by a category (e.g., all the blue things, all the cars, all the things that are food)

• This demonstrates an awareness that things can relate to each other and that your child can recognize specific features such as color and function; this a precursor to being able to identify patterns and understand or invent rules for how the world works.

Points to things in a book when you ask questions like “Where is the puppy?”

• Your child is demonstrating receptive language development, meaning he’s learning the names and labels for things, and he can attend to what you’re asking without getting distracted by other images; both skills are important parts of critical thinking.

Can recall a simple request or command several minutes after it’s been given (e.g., can remember that you asked them to go pick up their toy in their room by the time they walk to their room)

• Holding information in working memory long enough to take action on that information is a critical part of our executive functioning skills.

Understands simple or common rules, such as sitting at the dinner table or being buckled up in the car

• This shows your child can understand, remember, and follow rules—an important aspect of executive functioning skills.

3-Year-Old Checklist

Can group like items or objects by more than one category (e.g., all the blue things that are also cars but not trucks)

• This demonstrates that your child knows things can relate to each other and can recognize specific features such as color and function; this a precursor to being able to identify patterns and understand or invent rules for how the world works.
• Your child is demonstrating receptive language development, meaning he’s learning the names and labels for things, and he can attend to what you’re asking without getting distracted by other images. Both language and executive function skills are important parts of critical thinking.

Can recall and follow two-step instructions (e.g., “Pick up your towel and put it in the laundry bin”)

• Holding multiple pieces of information in working memory long enough to take action on that information is a critical part of our executive functioning skills.

Can follow simple rules in collaborative or competitive games

• Understanding, remembering, and following rules is an important aspect of executive functioning skills.

4-Year-Old Checklist

Knows the name and purpose behind a couple different types of media (e.g., books for reading, radio in the car for music or news, streaming for music) 

• Recognizing that different devices and platforms serve up different types of content is the new precursor for understanding various forms of news and information.

Can recall and follow two- and three-step instructions (e.g., “Pick up your towel, put it in the laundry bin, and then bring me your socks”)

Recognizes that different people have different opinions and knowledge areas (e.g., a teacher is a trustworthy source of knowledge; a grandparent knows a lot about family history; a mail delivery person knows a lot about mail)

• Knowing that different people know different things AND that some people are likely more trustworthy than others is an important precursor for being able to critically evaluate information and sources.

Can answer simple function questions, such as “What are shoes for?” or “What is a pencil for?” 

• Understanding and being able to articulate the function and purpose of something is an important aspect of knowing how things work.

Knows what comes next in a story she’s heard before 

• When your child can tell you how a story ends or what part comes next, she’s revealing an ability to remember important details over a period of time (and an awareness that some things, like a favorite bedtime story, are stable and don’t change).

5-Year-Old Checklist

Can point to the names of the author and illustrator of a book (and tell you the difference between those two roles)

• A foundational aspect of thinking critically about information is knowing who wrote (or illustrated) the work, and how those roles differ and/or complement each other.

Answers comprehension questions after having read a story (or having it read to them), such as questions about what the main lesson of the story was, how the main character may have felt at a specific point in the story, or why the story ended the way it did

• These types of questions require a child to not just hear or read a story, but to think about what the words mean together and identify big themes and lessons.

Can recall and follow multi-step instructions (e.g., “Put away your book, then grab your blue crayon and bring it to the bin by the window”)

6-Year-Old and Up Checklist

By age 6, many children will be able to follow multi-step instructions without forgetting what they’re supposed to be doing or getting distracted along the way. That’s not to say distractions won’t happen (even I can get pulled into something else on my way to the laundry room, completely forgetting about the laundry until the next day)—but they’re less likely than in younger children. 

This age range is also starting to pick up the nuances of differing opinions on topics within a family. Which sports team is the best, where the family should go on vacation, even some elements of politics—if your family is discussing these things, your child will likely be realizing that not all people share the same ideas.

This is not a bad thing! It’s important for your child to learn that the existence of multiple perspectives on a topic is normal, and that positive, uplifting dialogue about those differences, where various perspectives are respected, can be an enriching environment.

You can support critical thinking as your child navigates this stage by utilizing some of the tips listed above, such as asking open-ended questions, modeling how to be an active listener, and going to the library to do research with your child. Your child will also likely be forming their own opinions at this stage, which is exciting to see. 

Supporting Critical Thinking with Begin

Critical thinking is a very important “C” —not just for your child’s short-term development, but for their entire lifespan. The critical thinking skills they learn now will help them achieve the lifelong health and happiness you want for them.

At Begin, we know this, and we include critical thinking activities in almost all of our products—whether it’s solving puzzles in codeSpark , playing memory games in HOMER , building hands-on projects at home with Little Passports , or something else. Check out our comprehensive learning membership to see how some of our products come together to give your child their best start to achieving their fullest potential.

There are many things you can do to support and reinforce your child’s critical thinking skills. It’s truly a lifelong process of growth and development, and we’re here to help!

Jody has a Ph.D. in Developmental Science and more than a decade of experience in the children’s media and early learning space.

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Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos

Chief Learning Officer at Begin

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Critical Thinking Skills for Preschoolers: 4 Fun Activities to Try at Home

For preschoolers, critical thinking involves the ability to think clearly and rationally in order to understand logical connections between ideas.

To engage in reflection and independent thought, children must be encouraged to become active learners rather than passive recipients of information.

Furthermore, rigorously questioning ideas and assumptions is all about determining whether arguments and findings represent the entirety of the facts of a situation.

While intuition and instinct can take preschoolers so far, it is critical thinking skills that allow children to identify, analyse and solve problems systematically.

Critical Thinking and the Power of Play

At our Kids Konnect preschools in Redwood City , Pacifica , San Mateo - Bunker Hill , San Mateo - Downtown and San Leandro we encourage children to explore cause and effect through play.

Throughout our play-based curriculum , preschoolers are provided with endless opportunities to try new things and see the resulting reactions in a safe and inclusive environment that facilitates learning.

Moreover, it is through these practical experiences of play with a purpose that children gain the integral foundations for critical thinking skills.

That being said, how can you help your preschooler to approach problems in a consistent way so that they can understand the links between concepts and ideas and master critical thinking?

Let’s discover four activities that you can try at home with your child to guide the development of their critical thinking skills.

1. Guess the Toy

Place one of your child’s toys behind your back and ask your child to guess what you are hiding.

Give your preschooler clues and see if they can ask you questions about the color, size, and texture of the toy.

Once they have grasped the concept of the game, swap roles to help your child understand how to make guesses based on what they already know.

2. Make a Menu

Tap into your preschooler’s love of food by compiling an extra special menu together.

Simply show your child some ingredients from the kitchen and ask them to come up with meal ideas.

Ask about which flavors they do and do not like, and if they create something delicious you could even consider giving it a try.

3. Food Tasting

One of the easiest ways to elicit opinions from a preschooler is by introducing them to new foods.

Just like adults, children form strong likes and dislikes so put out a selection of healthy foods with exciting tastes and textures and see what your little one thinks.

You could even let your child predict whether or not they will like a new food and ask them for reasons why.

4. Browse the Family Photo Albums

Looking at photographs is an excellent way to ask your child questions that require a deeper level of thinking.

Most images have a story behind them so sit down with your preschooler and discuss what is happening in each picture.

Additionally, flicking through a photo album can give your preschooler a quick ‘who's who’ of family members and friends that can spark conversations that could lead anywhere.

The STEAM Connection

At Kids Konnect, we're super focused on finding fun ways to develop critical thinking skills in a fun way. It's all part of our play-based STEAM curriculum .

STEAM -focused lessons prompt preschoolers to systemically work through problems and apply information about science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math to figure out solutions.

Above all, enrolling your child at a Kids Konnect preschool gives them the opportunity to be innovative by providing a joyful environment and classroom experiences that are conducive to learning.

Heading out on a play date with your preschooler some time soon? Check out our blog post for 9 quick and easy STEAM play date ideas .