Critical thinking skills development is an important feature that can be encouraged through shared reading experiences. Here's a more in-depth look.
Analyzing, evaluating, and making conclusions or decisions based on logic constitute critical thinking. It is a key ability that allows children to better understand their surroundings and make more informed decisions.
When children are allowed to select their own book during shared reading periods, they are implicitly practicing critical thinking. They're weighing their alternatives, comparing the appeal of various stories depending on their interests, and possibly even taking into account the length of the story or the variety of characters. They're making assumptions about what they think will be interesting or useful to read.
As kids read the book they've picked, they'll have even more chances to practice critical thinking. They may create plot predictions, examine the activities of the characters, and evaluate the story's results. You can help kids improve their critical thinking skills by discussing the book with them and asking open-ended questions. Questions such as "Why do you think the character did that?" or "What would you have done in their place?" can foster analysis, evaluation, and decision-making.
Furthermore, children learn to think beyond the narrative, connecting the story to their own experiences and applying the story's teachings to real-life events. These are higher-order critical thinking skills that will be useful to them for the rest of their lives.
Also, every time a child takes a decision and sees the outcome (in this case, reading a nice book or learning something new), they are increasing their decision-making skills. They learn that their actions have repercussions and become better prepared to make informed judgments in the future.
To summarize, respecting a child's choices during shared reading experiences can be an effective technique for fostering critical thinking abilities. It changes reading from a passive to an active learning experience, encouraging children to think, question, connect, and decide.
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