Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the theme of this edition, something that seldom appears as the sole focus of work with young children and indeed is not always overtly articulated or highlighted within programmes. Yet the ability to think critically is actually widely fostered as part of the holistic development of young children. This can be seen in many project activities, for example, those that require children to engage in looking, understanding, reflecting, judging and making choices. These kinds of almost mechanical processes, and similarly mechanical notions such as cause, effect and consequence, are important in encouraging children to learn how to think critically. But they are a means to something much more exciting, the internalisation of critical thinking and its transformation into an ability that, often unobtrusively, will guide children through the many dilemmas, decisions and choices they will have to face in life. And the greater that ability, the better the consequences for children, their families, their communities and their societies.