Last Updated on April 5, 2024 by Editorial Team
Critical thinking is an essential skill that helps a person derive information on a particular subject, analyze it by comparing it with relevant things and arrive at a conclusion. While doing so, the person utilizes their thinking ability to develop a 360-degree overview of a subject to find a solution.
We may not realize it, but we are constantly using our critical thinking ability in our daily lives. For example, any important decision in our life requires us to think critically before we arrive at it. Therefore, practicing and refining these skills is necessary.
Kids do get opportunities to think critically as they go on with life, however, parents and teachers can encourage kids to use these skills by asking simple age-appropriate questions. In this write-up, we have prepared a list of questions that can boost a child’s critical thinking skills. Let’s look at them now.
Critical thinking questions for preschoolers/ kindergarteners
1. How would you feel if you cannot go out to play?
2. If you could visit a cartoon character, which one would it be?
3. Who do you want to pick you up from school – mom or dad, and why?
4. If you get a day off from school, who would you like to visit and what would you do there?
5. If you had to exchange a toy with your friend, which one would it be and why?
6. What do you think your mom does when you are at school?
7. If your pet could talk for a day, what would you two talk about?
8. If God wants to grant you a superpower, which one should it be and why?
9. Where is Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood and how can you find out how to get there?
10. What will happen to slime if you leave it out overnight on a table?
11. What do your toys do when you go to bed at night?
12. If you could change your mommy and daddy’s name, what names would you choose for them?
13. Why is it important to wash your hands when they get dirty?
14. If you had a shop, what would you sell?
15. Where would you go if you had wings to fly?
16. What would you enjoy more and why – going to the beach or visiting the zoo?
17. If your parents allow you to buy one thing for yourself, what would it be and why?
18. Would you rather eat a cookie or a slice of pizza?
19. How can you be nice to your friends?
20. What’s more fun – jumping in a muddy puddle or jumping in a foam pit?
Critical thinking questions for elementary students
1. What would happen to the world if there was no sun?
2. If the Wimpy Kid had no siblings, how different would his life be?
3. How can a person become an expert at something?
4. How are you different from other kids in the class?
5. What would happen if there were no adults in the world?
6. If you could turn a historical figure alive, who would it be and why?
7. If you get to be a parent for a day, what changes would you bring to house rules?
8. How can you help a friend with studies?
9. How can you handle bullies in school?
10. What is the one thing you enjoy doing when you return home from school and why?
11. How would your life be if you lived in a jungle?
12. If your parents allow you to stay awake all night, how would you spend your time?
13. If you had to dress up like a famous person for one day at school, who would you choose to be and why?
14. What came first – the chicken or the egg?
15. If you discovered a new color, what would you name it?
16. How will your life change if your parents get you a pet?
17. If you were to lose one of your senses, which one are you willing to give up?
18. Which three emotions do you experience the most?
19. Can there be life on other planets?
20. Is there anything that bothers you and how can you try to fix it?
Critical thinking questions for middle schoolers
1. If you were to invent one thing, what would it be and why?
2. If you were lost, how would you find your way back home?
3. If you must describe yourself in five words, which ones would they be?
4. Is there a family tradition you enjoy the most? Which one is it and why do you love it?
5. How is lying bad for you?
6. Why do adults not follow the rules they make for their kids?
7. What is one thing about the school you would never want to change?
8. How would life on Earth change if there were no days and only nights?
9. What do you want to be in the future?
10. What do you prefer and why – going outdoors or staying indoors?
11. Why and how can we protect our environment?
12. Can you estimate how many mobile phones there are in the world?
13. Why is it important to learn more than one language?
14. If you were stranded on an island, what would you do to survive?
15. Should animals be left alone in the jungle or should they be kept in zoos?
16. If you had to donate your pocket money, where would you donate it and why?
17. What things are hard for kids but easy for grown-ups?
18. How would you change a story’s ending?
19. How can you avoid a particular problem?
20. Is this sentence an opinion or is it a fact?
Critical thinking questions for high schoolers
1. How will you help a blind person with directions?
2. Is there a career option you would never choose and why?
3. Which traits make you unique in the class?
4. If you get a chance to go back in time, what is the one thing you would change and why?
5. What can high schoolers do to improve themselves?
6. As a teenager, what do you find the most challenging?
7. What could we do to prevent this from happening again?
8. When did you no longer consider yourself a child?
9. If you get a chance to go on an international vacation, where would you go and why?
10. How can your generation contribute to making this world a better place to live in?
11. What was your biggest achievement in the past month?
12. When do you call a day ‘perfect’?
13. If there was a pizza-eating contest, how many slices would you be able to eat?
14. What are the pros and cons of children having their own phones?
15. Which issue is more important to address – Climate Change or Poverty and Hunger?
16. What global changes do you wish to see 30 years from now?
17. What would you do if you won a cash prize of one million dollars?
18. If there’s a medical emergency, how would you help?
19. Is too much money a good or a bad thing?
20. Should public schools have uniforms for students?
Few more questions to encourage critical thinking
1. If you were on the opposite side, how would your perspective be different?
2. How can you find a solution to this problem?
3. Is there a way to prevent this issue from occurring in the future?
4. How can you explain this with an example?
5. Can we arrive at a solution using a different route?
6. How can you find out if something is true?
7. What life lesson can you derive from this situation?
8. How can you apply the lessons you learned by reading a book in your real life?
9. Why do you think this is important?
10. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
11. How can society benefit from ——?
12. How can we improve this?
13. Will this cause a problem?
14. What else can be done to make it better?
15. What assumptions are you making while dealing with this problem?
16. Which approach is better?
17. What are your views – agree or disagree?
18. How does journaling help?
19. Is it relevant to what we are talking about?
20. How could this negatively impact us?
In conclusion
People have different critical thinking abilities and those who excel at this skill are highly regarded in the workplace too! To help our children stay in tune with the rapidly changing world, we can ask them to answer the above questions so they get into the habit of analyzing things critically before arriving at conclusions.
Just take out five minutes a day to discuss any matter and blend these questions into your discussion. It can be done in the classroom, at the dining table, or whenever you get a chance to sneak in a bit of learning and stimulate critical thinking in children.
I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.