critical thinking activities for 3 year olds

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7 Powerful Critical Thinking Activities for Toddlers

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One of my parenting ideals is to teach my children how to think and not what to think. As with most ideals, it can be easy to say and believe it but more challenging to put it into practice. I mean, how exactly do you introduce critical thinking activities for toddlers?

What does that look like in an everyday setting?

In this post, I will talk you through the best ways to give your toddler lots of opportunities to increase their problem-solving skills so your parenting ideals can actually become a reality.

7 Critical Thinking Activities for Toddlers

Before we jump straight into the activity suggestions, I think it’s important to understand the ‘why’ behind doing them.

What is Critical Thinking?

The ability to think critically is a crucial skill that we need to build upon as we age. Logical reasoning skills are severely lacking in society these days.

I would even go as far as to say that critical thinking is one of the most important skills you can work on with your child. The learning of these skills begins in early childhood and can be honed in different ways.

So, what exactly is critical thinking?

Here is the definition straight from the Oxford dictionary:

the process of analysing information in order to make a logical decision about the extent to which you believe something to be true or false Oxford Dictionary

In a day and age where we are constantly overwhelmed by information, it is imperative that we teach our young children discernment in knowing what is and isn’t true. Being able to see logical connections is a great way to set our kids up for success.

Believe it or not, this can begin as early as the toddler years .

Why Working on Problem-Solving Skills is So Vital

Simply put, if we don’t teach our children how to think for themselves and have discernment, they will be swept up in every idea and thought that is presented to them.

As a mom, I want the very best for my kids. I want them to be able to have wisdom with the decisions that they make.

I need them to be able to take in information, measure it up against good logic and research, and then make an informed decision.

Of course, the process of that is going to look very different when a toddler does it than when an adult does it.

However, the principles are there and will be built upon throughout the years.

Related: 60+ Engaging Activities for 18-Month Old Toddlers

How to Teach Critical Thinking to a Child with Critical Thinking Activities

Critical thinking doesn’t have to have to be reduced to scheduled activities. It can be developed in simple ways such as stepping back and giving your toddler space to work out problems by themselves.

However, sometimes we want a concrete path of sorts that reassures us that we are providing healthy circumstances for our children to work on specific skills.

That’s what these activity suggestions are for.

When we think about puzzles we often think of traditional flat puzzles or jigsaw puzzles that have pieces that make up a picture of some kind.

Often, these kinds of puzzles are too advanced and overwhelming for toddlers. However, that doesn’t mean that doing puzzles is out of the question.

Instead, think of simpler versions of puzzles. Something that is more tactile. For instance, a puzzle ball with shape cutouts.

Your toddler will still need to figure out how to get the pieces to fit. This is a brilliant problem-solving activity that will help build critical thinking skills. It is also a fun way to learn shape recognition.

Related: 25 Memory-Making Mom and Toddler Activities

#2 Classification & Sorting

If you want to set up an activity using only things you already have at home, then this is it.

Grab a selection of 2-3 different groups of items.

This doesn’t need to be complicated!

Mix the items together and then have your toddler sort them into their various groups.

Muffin trays are perfect for this activity. You can even add in some toddler pincers to help add in some fine motor control practice.

There are many creative ways that you can expand on this. Use different objects and give them ample time to do the sorting.

This activity can be started at a very young age and will teach some really important concepts.

#3 Open-Ended Questions (story time)

Every toddler loves to play make pretend. They often blur the lines between reality and their fantasy world.

A really fun and simple way to work on critical thinking skills is to ask your toddler open-ended questions.

This is a good habit to get into in general for your day-to-day interactions, but you can also have a more focused storytime where this is something you do.

You can set up the scene of the story and then have them add their own take on it by asking questions.

For instance:

“Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack. What was Jack’s favorite color?”

This is a fairly limitless activity and can be played over and over again. It will help with logical thinking but also help their language skills all while leaning into pretend play.

You can even talk through several possible solutions or answers. Younger children are often amazing at coming up with creative ideas that we might not have thought of.

The right questions need to be open ended. You may need to give them a little prompt at the beginning, but they will develop their cognitive skills over time and increase their creative thinking.

#4 Getting Dressed

I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve had one of my toddlers come to me in angry desperation because they have their head stuck through the leg hole of their pants, or some other place it isn’t meant to be.

Getting dressed independently is a big deal when you’re just 2 or 3 years old!

Understanding where their little arm is meant to go seems easy to us, but basically impossible to them.

Being intentional about teaching your toddler how to dress themselves each day is a wonderful way to work on critical thinking skills.

Give them some starting points such as pointing out where the tag should be in relation to their body is important.

If you are good about setting them up with the instructions they need at the start, then over time they will get it.

Just be there each time to lend a hand when they’re getting really frustrated.

Be sure to give them enough space to practice their problem-solving skills before jumping in to rescue them right away.

Not only will they learn the great skill of dressing independently, but all these successes build upon each other.

For instance, if your child is feeling defeated about not mastering something, you can point them back to a time when they did.

It is a great confidence builder!

Don’t stop with just this activity. There are many logical skills that can be gleaned from daily life. Brushing teeth, tidying up, and so much more!

Pull from those at an early age and you’ll be making a huge impact on your child. The real world requires us to have different perspectives and intellectual curiosity.

Look for how to teach those in every day life and you’ll soon see new ways to expand on that.

#5 Building Activities

There are a plethora of toys that fit the description of building toys. Everything from playdoh to building blocks.

Your child may like one in particular, but the outcome is still the same.

These open-ended toys give our toddlers the opportunity to hone their critical thinking skills as they work to build the marvelous creations they have stored up in their minds.

As I mentioned, there are many different toys that will work for this. Some of our favorites have been magnatiles , playdoh , and wooden train tracks .

Creative activities are often made up of very simple resources.

#6 Tangrams or Copy Activities

Tangrams are a beautiful mixture of several activities. They are a kind of puzzle, but also focus on patterns, shape and color recognition, and imitation.

If you have a set of tangrams then you can find some great toddler printables where they can copy the patterns.

You could create your own and have your toddler copy yours.

However, you do not have to have tangrams to do this. You can use whatever objects and bits and pieces you have at home.

Create something and have your child copy it. It is as simple as that.

#7 Think Fun, Roll & Play

We’ve had this game for several years now and it’s a great one for really little ones and their critical thinking skills.

They spread the cards on the ground face down. They then roll the colored die and pick up a card with that color.

Next, they act out whatever they’re instructed to do on the card.

There are so many wonderful skills that can be built by playing this game! It is simple, yet fun.

Now that my kids are a bit older, my eldest child often takes charge and helps his younger siblings play. This is one of those fun games that can definitely be good for both younger and older children.

It’s a critical thinking exercise that everyone can join in on.

Final Thoughts on Critical Thinking Activities for Toddlers

Our little ones are so eager to learn. The way in which they do that is most often by observing the world around them and then replicating it in their play.

Play-based activities are the best way to really hone in on specific skills.

All of the activities listed here are ones that have play at the core.

Your toddler can build their critical thinking skills by having the opportunity to focus on one or more of these activities each day.

Give them space to learn, but also be there for them when things start to get a bit overwhelming.

Don’t forget how much learning takes place through free play as well. Critical thinking is an essential life skill but it also isn’t complicated. Our children can learn to have a critical mindset just by learning from everyday life.

What a wonderful privilege it is for us to nurture these precious ones into becoming great critical thinkers!

Hi! I'm Christine - a homeschooling mom of three. I see homeschooling simply as another facet of parenting. Just as you teach your child to tie their shoes, you can also teach them how to read and do arithmetic. As a second-generation homeschooler, I know the endless benefits that homeschooling offers. I went on to complete a Bachelor of Nursing and have now chosen to stay at home with my children (while also running an online business).

I have a heart for mothers that feel as though they are just existing from day to day and are longing for more. You can find out more about me and my family over on my ' About Me ' page.

As well as the abundance of posts you'll find on my blog, you can also find me over at iHomeschool Network and Today Parenting .

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10 preschool critical thinking activities my preschooler loves.

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Some days I wonder, “What was he thinking?”

“I had too many socks. The drawer wouldn’t close so I threw the extras in the trash,” beams my little guy as if that was the perfect solution to the problem.

Teaching kids critical thinking skills can be almost as hard as teaching them that pants are not an optional piece of clothing and goggles and an umbrella alone do not make a complete outfit either.

Here are some tried-and-true critical thinking activities for preschoolers that my child loves.

1. Guess What I Have

With a small toy in one hand, place both hands behind your back. Ask your child to guess what is in your hand. As they make attempts to guess, give them clues such as: “It’s not blue, it’s red,” or “it doesn’t have wheels, it has legs.” This allows them to make guesses based on what they already know.

Be ready to dodge in case they get frustrated and throw things at you. It happens.

2. Play the ‘Is It True?’ Game

Ask your child a question that starts with ‘Is it true that…’. When they answer, ask them how they know that it is true or not.

I asked my preschooler “How do you know if someone is sleeping?”

“Because they slobber on their pillow,” he answered brilliantly.

Don’t worry about perfect answers, just praise any effort.

3. Work in Groups

Getting my kids to work together in a group is one of the best preschool critical thinking activities that I know of. The hardest part of this activity is getting everyone’s attention.

Just join the game of ‘Who can say “No, me” the loudest’ , and maybe they will hear you.

When I can ever get my kids to interact with each other, they realize that there is more than one way of doing things and they are introduced to a variety of different approaches and ideas.

Pro Tip: Help Your Child Become Better at Critical Thinking

Enroll your child for the Atlas Mission and let your child play with this award-winning educational program. Your child will become better at critical thinking without even realizing it!

4. Play “Good Idea/Bad Idea”

Take two of your child’s favorite stuffed animals (and when they throw a fit for them, take two that they don’t like instead) and put on a show with them.

Act out scenarios and let your child predict the outcomes of their actions. Ask them at each phase of the game if what the characters are going to do is a good idea or a bad idea and why.

5. Food Tasting

Forming an opinion is an important preschool critical thinking skill. Kids have strong opinions about food. It’s usually a love/hate relationship.

It is widely known in preschool circles that no two kids are allowed to have the same favorite food. This is cause for war.

Bring out some foods that you know your child hates or loves. My son hates chicken and loves yogurt so we used those.

Now ask them if they like that food or not and why or why not. Then bring out a new food that your child will love (we used blue cupcakes with sprinkles) and let them predict whether or not they will like it and why.

6. Find Similarities and Differences

My preschooler and I often play a game of pointing out similarities and differences in things. He tells me how similar Dad and I are because we both drive under stop lights and how different Dad is from me because he thinks a yellow light means hurry up and I think it means slow down.

Challenge your child to find things that are similar and different at the same time like a fork and a spoon. Both are utensils but one is for eating salad and one is for digging in the backyard when Mom’s not looking (or something like that). These similarities and differences activities for preschoolers help strengthen a variety of your child’s skills.

7. Go On a Picnic

One of our favorite preschool critical thinking activities often includes an outdoor picnic. Give your child a lunch box to pack and suggest items that are both relevant and irrelevant to a picnic, and let them tell you which items are relevant, and why.

Yes, they will probably want to include their pet goldfish and two left mittens. If they can explain the relevance, I guess it can get packed.

8. Make ‘Get Well’ Cards

Making ‘Get Well Soon’ cards for people who are sick can help kids relate situations back to themselves. As you make the cards, ask them if they have ever been sick or hurt.

They will probably have a hundred stories but don’t worry. We all know that every Mom has a secret super power: the pretend listening skill.

“Oh, really?” “I never knew that.” “You’re kidding? Tell me more.”

Oh, yeah, we’re good.

9. Hide the Thimble

We have played this game for years to develop critical thinking skills. We never hide a thimble, though. I can just see my preschooler popping that thing in his mouth and me attempting to do the Heimlich maneuver on him.

No, we use a baseball instead. There’s no chance of him getting that whole thing in his mouth. Although, I’ve seen him try.

Everyone closes their eyes while the ball is being hidden. Then, I give clues and let the kids know if they are getting closer to the ball or further away.

I also give clues like, “It’s near the sofa.”

10. Ask ‘What Happened and Why’

No, I’m not talking about when you hear a loud noise and run into the room to investigate. For this activity, you only need a family photo album.

Sit down with your child and look at some funny photos of the family. Choose photos that have a story behind them and then ask your child, “What happened in this picture and why?”

My little guy likes the photo of my sister when she spilled melted chocolate all over the kitchen. Yup, that’s a keeper.

I’m sure you have some photos of your family that you can make fun of, too.

I hope you enjoy some of these preschool critical thinking activities with your little one just like I have. I just keep telling myself that one day they’ll pay off. But for now, I must go get those socks out of the trashcan.

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Jill Cain creates educational content for the Atlas Mission . She has 20+ years of experience homeschooling her 6 children aged 4 - 21 and enjoys helping parents around the world in their homeschooling journeys.

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13 Growth Activities To Raise Critical Thinking Toddlers

Table of contents, the most important skills .

Hi friends! As a homeschooling mama of a busy two-year-old, I’m always looking for one more great way to nourish her growing mind. The most important skills are critical thinking skills, and  I’m incredibly passionate about helping young children grow up to be critical thinkers. 

I wanted to share the critical thinking activities for toddlers and techniques I’ve found most helpful for promoting critical thinking in my little one. As she interacts with the world around her, I try to encourage her to ask questions, make observations, and draw logical connections. 

First, I set up our learning space with open-ended toys like blocks, puzzles, and sensory bins. This gives my toddler the freedom to explore materials, test theories, and engage her problem-solving skills. I also take her outdoors often so she can examine nature up close. A nature scavenger hunt is a fun way to exercise those observation abilities! 

In our daily life, I look for chances to engage in critical thinking. Bath time becomes an opportunity for sinking/floating experiments. At mealtimes, we discuss food attributes like colors, textures, and tastes. And I try to read interactive stories that ask thought-provoking questions.  

Play is super vital besides independent play, I make time for free play, pretend play, and imaginative play.  We do group activities to build social skills and teamwork. The other day, we did a collaborative marble run challenge with some friends that required planning, testing, and creative problem-solving. So fun to see their little minds at work!

I don’t expect expert-level analysis from a toddler, but fostering this mindset from a young age builds confidence and cognitive skills over time. My kiddo seems to love exploring ideas and figuring things out. And nothing warms this homeschooling mama’s heart more than seeing that look of discovery on her face! 

Let me know if you have any favorite critical thinking activities for the toddler bunch. I love to hear different perspectives!

 How to assess your child’s reading level at home: The Five Finger Test

What is Critical Thinking for Toddlers?

For young minds, critical thinking is the ability to observe details, ask questions, problem-solve, and make connections through exploring their world. It’s about nurturing natural curiosity and independence. My daughter shows this when she examines objects like bugs or flowers up close, asks “why” questions non-stop, or figures out how to build a block tower through trial and error. 

Why Build Logical Skills Early On? 

The toddler years are the perfect time for honing basic critical thinking skills. Their brains are primed for establishing thinking pathways and making cognitive connections. When we engage toddlers in activities that exercise observation, questioning, and problem-solving, we equip them with skills that will benefit them down the road academically and socially. 

Cognitive Skills: The Building Blocks of Critical Thinking

Language Development is an essential life skill

I nurture language development by narrating our day and expanding on my toddler’s statements. This strengthens communication skills crucial for critical thinking.

Problem-Solving Abilities

Simple games that involve cause and effect, sequencing, or sorting help hone early problem-solving skills and logical reasoning skills. I see my kiddo light up when she figures something out!

Fostering an Enriching Learning Environment

Dedicated Play Space

We converted our spare room into a playroom filled with open-ended toys, art supplies, and hands-on materials like sand tables. This space encourages curiosity and discovery. 

Open-Ended Toys 

Some of our favorites include blocks, puzzles, sensory bins, and pretend play sets. These toys allow for imaginative experimentation rather than having a fixed outcome. 

Outdoor Exploration

We spend lots of time outdoors examining plants and insects, splashing in puddles, and going on nature scavenger hunts. Outdoor time spurs curiosity about the natural world.

Everyday fun Activities 

Problem-Solving activities

Puzzles, matching games, and shape sorters encourage logical thinking and perseverance through trial and error. We also love imaginary games like going on a bear hunt!

Sensory Play

Activities like playing with kinetic sand, water beads, or finger painting different objects can be a critical thinking exercise for the senses and promote open-ended experimentation and problem-solving. 

Storytelling 

I ask thoughtful, critical thinking questions and involve my toddler when reading stories. We talk about the characters’ feelings, make predictions, and discuss creative solutions. 

Artistic Expression 

Our favorite art supplies include crayons, play-dough, paper, glue, and child-safety scissors. Creating art fosters really great skill for creative thinking and problem-solving skills in creative ways by using creative ideas. 

Digital Activities in Moderation

Educational Apps 

I limit screen time but do let my toddler play with a few trusted apps focused on critical thinking, like simple puzzle games and creative drawing programs. 

Balance with Offline Play

While some digital activities can engage her mind, hands-on exploration, movement, and social play are crucial. I aim for minimal screen time.  

Incorporating Critical Thinking Into Everyday Life

Mealtime Choices 

I present two healthy food options and ask my toddler questions to help her consider the choices. This gets her thinking and promotes autonomy in simple ways, but it makes a huge impact.

Bathtime Experiments  

Bath time becomes a chance for critical thinking with sink/float challenges, pouring games, and even some supervised mixing of water and bubbles is an excellent way to practice problem solving.

Using Bedtime Stories To Enhance Critical Thinking

I’ve found bedtime stories to be a fantastic way to nurture critical thinking in my toddler before she drifts off to sleep. 

When we crack open a book at bedtime, I make sure to choose stories that have some problem-solving element or dilemma for the characters. 

Then I engage my toddler in the story by asking the right questions that are open-ended questions about what she thinks will happen next or what she would do if she were the character. We talk through different choices the characters could make and the potential consequences. This helps my little one learn to be an active learner and think critically about decision-making and reasoning without just accepting things at face value and ultimately make good decisions in life. 

After we finish reading, I sometimes have her retell parts of the story in her own words to build her comprehension and narrative skills. Reading interactively at bedtime stretches her thinking and lets her snuggle up with a curious mind.

 I recommend choosing picture books with fun problem-solving plots if you want to turn bedtime stories into stimulating brain-building sessions!

As parents, we can model critical thinking and problem-solving in our everyday actions to demonstrate these skills for our toddlers. When tackling problems, I think out loud so my toddler can follow my thought process. For example, when building something I might say “Hmm, this piece doesn’t fit here. I wonder if turning it this way would work better?” I narrate how I’m testing different solutions so she can see the step-by-step reasoning. 

During daily tasks like cooking or cleaning, I also involve my toddler in the problem-solving. If I’m trying to organize my toolbox, I’ll ask her questions like “Which of these tools is the biggest? Where do you think it should go?”Guiding her through the decision analysis demonstrates how to work through a challenge. I always explain my rationale for the choices I make too. The more I demonstrate thoughtful problem-solving, the more my toddler sees critical thinking in action. Leading by example helps these cognitive skills become ingrained from an early age.

Nurturing A Critical thinking Mindset At Home

Here are some of the techniques I use to nurture critical thinking:

– We turn daily routines like cooking, laundry, or errands into learning opportunities by talking through the steps and asking questions.

– I provide open-ended toys like blocks, puzzles, crayons and other art supplies that allow for creativity. 

– We read interactive stories where my toddler can fill in the blanks or make predictions. 

– Outside time is great for curiosity and critical thinking – we examine flowers, clouds, and insects up close during nature walk. 

– Independent play allows my toddler to problem-solve without interference as she explores the world. 

I’m careful not to provide too much direct instruction at this young age. Instead, I see my role as setting up an enriching environment and letting her imagination take flight!

These early thinking skills will give her confidence in preschool and beyond. I’m so proud to see her make connections or figure something out independently. The toddler years are fleeting so I’m cherishing each “aha” moment!

 Unlock the Secret of Your Perfect Parenting Style Now!

Cheat Sheet: How To Foster Critical Thinking in Toddlers

Chart: 13 critical thinking activities for toddlers chart.

13 activities that promote critical thinking skills for toddlers, preschoolers and young children.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I teach my toddler critical thinking?

You can teach critical thinking skills by encouraging observation, curiosity, and hands-on exploration. Provide open-ended toys and ask questions that stimulate reasoning. Allow time for independent play and problem-solving. Narrate thought processes during daily activities. Set up cause-and-effect experiments. Introduce age-appropriate logic puzzles and games. 

What activities develop critical thinking?

Activities that promote critical thinking include sensory play, imaginative play, sorting/matching games, open-ended art projects, reading interactive stories, participating in daily tasks, outdoor scavenger hunts, science experiments, and any opportunity for your toddler to ask questions and figure things out independently.

What are creative thinking activities for toddlers? 

Creative thinking activities allow toddlers to come up with innovative solutions. Examples include: open-ended art like painting or play-dough, building structures with blocks, pretend play scenarios, completing puzzles in different ways, exploring musical instruments, storytelling, and hands-on science experiments. 

What is an example of critical thinking for preschoolers?

An example of critical thinking for preschoolers is asking them to figure out how to retrieve a ball that rolled under a piece of furniture. They must analyze the situation, strategize a solution, and problem-solve based on logic. Other examples include sorting toys by specific attributes, arranging sequences of pictures, and answering reasoning questions after reading a story.

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10 Fun Critical Thinking Activities for Preschoolers

Posted on Last updated: May 29, 2023

Some children loves puzzles and love a challenge. There are different ways to strengthen critical thinking skills at an early age. Here are 10 critical thinking activities for preschoolers and older toddlers that will help young children become critical thinkers. These are simple activities that you can try today. 

Critical Thinking Games

What Can You Make with a Circle?  

This is a fun and creative game to play at home, in the car, on an airplane, or in the waiting room. It is a fun way to explore that there is more than one way to solve a problem and more than one right answer. Make a circle on the chalkboard or on a piece of paper and challenge your child to turn it into something else. Will they turn it into a flower, a sun, or will it become the body of an animal? There is no correct answer. 

A Copy Me game is a great way to develop spatial awareness. Use different household objects to make a design and then let your child copy it using a duplicate set of materials! In this picture, I set up the design on the left and the materials on the right were for my son to arrange. After you have done this over and over again. Have your child challenge you buy making a design and having you copy it. Creating the design and checking your answer will develop those skills in a different way. 

Possible Materials:

• craft sticks
• cookie cutters
• magnetic letters

What’s Missing? Part 1

This critical thinking activity can even be done on the go. All you need is paper and a pencil or dry erase board. Draw a picture of something and leave off a detail. Ask your child, “What’s missing?”.

• child’s name

What’s Missing? Part 2

This challenge is easier than What’s Missing – Part 1. Reuse an old magazine or ad to create this critical thinking activity. Cut out different pictures and cut part of the picture off. Challenge your child to put it back together. 

Sticker Puzzles

Foam stickers and paper are the materials you need to set the stage in this critical thinking exercise. Arrange the stickers in a certain design on the left and challenge your child to recreate it on the right. I stuck the stickers to the paper in the design on the left, but had my son just set the stickers on the paper in the correct arrangement on the right. That way we could reuse this activity. I keep it in a bag and throw it in my purse for the restaurant or waiting room. 

Squares in a Shape

How can the squares fit inside these shapes? I made this activity by arranging the wooden square blocks on the page and then tracing it around the outside. Some of these are trickier than others to complete. If you don’t have any wooden blocks like those shown, try using legos. 

Sticker Stories

Creative thinking is strengthened as older children design their own story with stickers. Arrange stickers on the page and then add details with crayons or markers. When your child is finished with the design, challenge them to tell you a story about what is happening in the picture. You can write the story down or just listen to it. 

Styrofoam Sculptures

Open ended play is the best way to promote critical thinking! What will your child make with styrofoam pieces and toothpicks? You can also substitute marshmallows or slices of pool noodles with the styrofoam. 

Cookie Cutter Puzzles

Younger children will love this simple puzzle made from cookie cutters or different objects. Trace the cookie cutter or specific shape and challenge your child to match them up. 

Mystery Bag

Mystery bag is so much fun and gets their senses thinking!  Put some fun objects in a bag (pompom, feather, plastic animals). Using deductive reasoning, your child will guess what the object is BEFORE she sees it.

Board Games and Card Games

The good news is that board games and card games are excellent for developing critical thinking skills and include the important skills of learning how to take turns and how to handle losing. 

• Tic Tac Toe
• Connect Four

Trying a simple experiment or wondering how things work are also natural ways to strengthen the critical thinking mindset. The Way Things Work Now by David Macaulay is a great book to get your child wondering and asking questions about how things work. Not a Box by Antoinette Portis is a fun picture book that illustrates how to think outside the box (literally).  

These critical thinking games are a few of our favorites. Overall, the end goal is for your child to be curious, ask their own questions, make logical connections, and to find creative solutions. The more logic and reasoning skills your child has, the better learner they will be in their own life.

Wednesday 13th of May 2015

I love this list. I have a bunch of puffy stickers (they were on clearance and I had to buy them!) so now I know what to do with them. They've been sitting in my cabinet for some time. :)

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STEM Journals, Activities & Experiments.

14+ Critical Thinking Activities For Kids – With Books & Games

Published by Shreiya | Updated on April 12, 2024

Critical thinking activities for kids help children think beyond the obvious. Critical thinking is an essential life skill which is required across all walks of life.

Critical Thinking is a tool that aids us in making informed, rational decisions. It enables us ‘how’ to think and make sense of the data and information presented to us.  

A child with a critical thinking mindset is able to question, interlink information & ideas, make rational choices and most importantly justify their own decisions. Simply put, it is the ability to analyse the existing information to make a logical decision.

Thus, it is imperative to engage kids in critical thinking activities that will help shifts their focus from being a passive listeners to an active learners. Besides critical thinking activities for kids, we have also listed handpicked games and books to boost critical thinking in kids to cater to all types of learners.

Jump to the section that interests you most!

Why Critical Thinking Matters? Critical Thinking Activities for Kids Critical Thinking Games for Kids Critical Thinking Books for Kids FAQ

Why Critical Thinking Matters?

As we go further into the future, this skill will be valued more than ever. With Artificial Intelligence and Automation doing most of the processing and knowledge based jobs, it is this skill that will keep the need of humans for a job ticking.

For young children, this ability translates into a mindset that is conducive for growth and lifelong learning.

Critical thinking empowers kids to cultivate a growth mindset that is ready to absorb new information, make meaningful connections between the existent knowledge and newly acquired information and most importantly use their knowledge bank to solve problems.

This makes critical thinking a formidable weapon in the mental ancillary. So much is the significance of Critical Thinking that it  has become one of the most vital skills of the 21st century .

That said, young children, according to Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget, are concrete thinkers until the age of 12 years. They learn mostly through trial and error approach and are unable to think ‘critically’ unless explicitly encouraged.

While young learners may not have the inherent circuitry in place to think critically, a guiding caretaker or an encouraging parent can certainly make a difference in wiring them to think logically.

That’s where we as parents and caretakers need to work. We need to coach our kids to think critically so they can survive the challenges of future. Here are our suggestions.

14 Critical Thinking Activities for Kids

Simple, playful critical thinking activities for kids go a long way in fostering this essential skill, which is crucial for development of the human brain.

1. Inculcate Creativity

Encourage your child to draw a scene to explain her thoughts. We need critical thinking skills to depict our thoughts into pictures.

That is the reason why art is valued. It is not an easy task. For older children, play games like Pictionary and ask them to justify what they draw.

2. Play Sorting Games 

Classification and sorting skills are great for logical reasoning.

Ask your child to sort same list of animals/objects using different attributes like size, color, geometry, shape etc. Group animals into categories based on their habitats, eating habits, body structure, reproduction mechanism etc.

These sorting activities help children see the differences and similarities across various groups, thus enhancing their understanding.

Related: Kick start your child’s memory training Memory Games for Kids .

3. Solve Puzzles and Brain teasers Together

These are great for problem-solving in kids . Be it jig-saw, tic-tac-toe, mazes or whatever your child loves.

Solving puzzles and brain teasers together helps your children learn from you and formulate a strategy of their own.

While doing these activities alone may be frustrating for kids, a playful encouraging parent can make a great difference.

Critical Thinking Puzzles

4. Real Problem Pretend Play

Bring in a real world problem like water scarcity to pretend play and ask them to think of solutions. Such games help children learn about their environment and surrounding.

It also aids them to understand the challenges faced in real world. Motivate them not only to think of solutions but also to implement at their level.

Like we thought how using a steel straw could reduce the waste generated by straws and save so many marine lives. For plastic bags, we brainstormed and made reusable cloth bags out of an old t-shirt.

Related: Read how Design Thinking for Kids is helping raise the next generation of problem solvers.

5. Get Creative with Blocks

Blocks are great at building logical skills. They help children give a sense to their imagination. Also they are great for loose parts play .

Every time you encourage your kindergartener to repurpose old blocks into new games, neurons fire up in her brain.

Quick Tip: Throw in some Math Jokes to add humour to your brain building session.

6. Inspire Thinking

Ask them to think of answers to their own questions. Aid the process of arriving at the answer rather than providing the answer.

Once they have arrived at a possible explanation, ask them to reason with their own answers.

This process of thinking about thinking – Metacognition , will help them find flaws (or support) in their own arguments and fine tune their opinion. Thus, making them better critical thinkers.

7. Teach Cause and Effect

Let them explore and test independently in a safe environment. Lot of discoveries were made by simple explorations. Such expeditions often teach a good lesson on cause and effect.

A great game for teaching cause and effect is the old classical Marbles. Same goes for Pool and Snookers.

Related: Science Experiments are a perfect way to teach cause and effect.

8. Let Them H ypothesise

When reading a story, stop midway and ask them what they think is going to happen, how is the story going to end?

Open ended questions like these fire up the grey cells and force them to think of logical and creative outcomes. Give them time to think and come up with an elaborated answer.

You can even use real life situations to ask open-ended questions like, when struck in a traffic jam, ask them to think of a solution that could help ease congestion. Such activities will not only critical thinking but also growth mindset in kids .

9. Play Guessing Games

Guessing games are excellent at building reasoning skills. Our favorite is ‘Animal Guess Who’. Drop hints describing the animal and then let your child guess it out.

10. Riddle Them

Riddles are a great way to fire up neurons and get your child thinking logically and critically. And the best part – riddles are SUPER fun!

Your kiddos wouldn’t even know that you are secretly working at their critical thinking skills. Here is an  exhaustive list of riddles to get you started.

11. Dumb Charades

This is another simple family game wherein the child is asked to guess the name of the movie ( STEM or sci-fi movies make it harder) — or anything else — by decoding the sign language of his team mate.

12. Let Them Play Detective

Hone your kid’s critical reasoning and thinking skills by letting them don the detective hat.

A simple treasure hunt to find a hidden object of joy could translate into great fun and critical thinking activity for kids.

For older kids, introduce the basis of kid appropriate Crime Scene Investigation to give them the taste of real thrill and a safe playground to practice their critical thinking.

13. Rebus Puzzles

These creative visual puzzles are perfect for polishing critical thinking skills in children. They are great for visual learners and secretly work at literacy skills as well.

14. Logical Reasoning Puzzles

These non-verbal and verbal reasoning puzzles are a great way to build critical thinking skills while polishing spatial & numeracy skills.

10 Critical Thinking Games for Kids

1. guess who.

This is a great family board game that works at boosting critical reasoning. The task at hand is to guess the opponent’s card by asking her/him the valid questions. Suitable for kids 6year and above.

2. Connect Four

Connect 4 is a classic game of strategy that will encourage your child to think critically and plan her moves to win the game. Super easy to learn and play, connect 4 does a great job at boosting thinking skills while having fun.

Related: Also check out these Exciting Toys for Kids that secretly sneak in learning into play!

Another critical thinking game for kids 6years and above, Othello packs a whole lot of fun! Besides being highly addictive, this classic game is great at boosting spatial reasoning and logical thinking skills.

Looking for Board Games? Check out our Giant List of Board Games for Kids for a fun family game session.

This single player game is great boredom buster and is a perfect brain building game for kids 5years and above. It comes with an increasing level of challenges that gradually build up logical reasoning skills. Neatly packed, it makes up for a nice travel game as well!

5. Parking Puzzle

Parking Puzzle works at reasoning and critical thinking skills in children 6years and above. The task is to assign parking spaces to the cars according to the challenge cards.

The challenge cards start from an easy level and scale up to expert level to keep children (and adults!) genuinely scratching their heads.

6. Brainvita

This marble eliminating game is a pure delight and a perfect game for the entire family. This brain bending game is simple enough to understand but packs a great challenge.

Got a brainy kid? Check out Trivia Questions for Kids to test their knowledge.

7. Mastermind

Take on the role of a code breaker with this game of Mastermind. Thrilling and exciting, this game boosts deduction and logical skills. 

Adapted for younger kids, this version comes with jungle animal pegs and 3 levels of play to make it more apt for kids 6years and above.

8. Domino Maze

Domino maze does a great job at gamifying logical and critical reasoning skills. This single player game is challenge based wherein the player has to add indicated tokens on the board to trigger domino effect. Suitable for kids, 8years and above.

9.  Swish

This is a wonderful critical thinking card game for kids 8 years and above. One of the few games that is equally loved by kids and adults, Swish is an award winning game!

10. Noggin Playground Dragon Dash

Dragon Dash is a cooperative game that not only teaches team building but also works at developing critical thinking skills. Targeted at kids 5 years and above, this critical thinking game is quick to play and understand and is loads of fun!

10 Critical Thinking Books for Kids

1. more-igami.

This is a lovely book to introduce critical thinking to kids in the most matter-of-factly way!

Your kids wouldn’t even realise the skills they are picking up while reading this heartwarming story of a boy, who has discovered the joy of origami and is ready to dive deep into the art of paper folding.

2. Flat Earth? Round Earth?

This is another gem of a book when it comes to teaching children the importance of critical thinking. Flat Earth? Round Earth? encourages children to ask questions and not take things for their face value. Highly recommended!

Also see Inspiring STEM Books for Kids to add STEM to your child’s reading.

3. Big Ideas for Curious Minds: An Introduction to Philosophy

What better way to encourage curiosity and critical thinking than by introducing children to the long-standing questions about life.

Children often wonder about these truths of life and more than often are shushed than encouraged. Here is your chance to inspire thinking about the greater things of life!

4. What To Do With a Box?

Turn your children into innovators with this charming book that wonders what all can be done with a cardboard box.

This book will encourage your children to question, wonder and give life to their ideas…just the perfect way to encourage critical thinking skills in kids.

5. Thingamabob

Thingamabob is a cute, humorous book that is sure to inspire critical thinking in kids as young as 3year old. Join the protagonist as it wonders what really thingamabob is and questions its own assumptions.

6. Learning to Fly

This is a story about an unlikely friendship between a man and a penguin, which believes it can fly!

Together they question, design and build to discover the secrets of flying. Highly recommended, this book is a real treasure!

7. Nibbling on Einstein’s Brain: The Good, the Bad and the Bogus in Science

If there could be a short course of critical thinking for kids, this book tops the list. It is the perfect guide to critical thinking.

It delivers great tricks on how to spot the phony facts from real science. Fun and interactive, this book is simply delightful!

8. A Home For a Bird

This is a beautiful story of friendship and how critical thinking can be used not only to solve scientific problems but also help a friend. A great book on various accounts – literacy, illustrations and the important lessons it delivers. Perfect for kids 5years and above.

9. Perfectly Logical

If you are looking for a book to put your child’s critical thinking skills to test, look no further. Perfectly logical is packed with 100 mind benders and puzzles that will progressively challenge your child.

10. Thinking Like a Lawyer

Coming form teacher-turned-attorney-turned-educationist-turned-innovator, you can expect a lot from this book and rightly so! One of the best books to introduce critical thinking tools to kids.

For young children upto the age 6 years, critical thinking is the ability to piece information together and draw a logical conclusion from it. This can be done through hands-on activities, simple experiments and logical puzzles.

1. Observation  2. Investigation & Analysis 3. Inference & Interpretation 4. Communication 5. Problem Solving & troubleshooting

To introduce critical thinking to kids, take a simplified approach and ask children to brainstorm 3 or 5 ways to solve an everyday challenge they face. For instance: – How can you get ready on time? – How can you share without fighting with each other? – What should you do when you are upset?

Best and most effective ways to boost critical thinking in children is through: 1. Playing logical games; 2. Engaging in critical thinking activities; 3. Reading books that widen their horizons and exemplifies how to think out of the box.

1. Play sorting games 2. Solve puzzles and brain teasers 3. Real problem pretend play 4. Dumb charades 5. Teach cause and effect

1. Boosts logical thinking 2. Enhances creativity 3. Identify and overcome cognitive biases 4. Fosters curiosity 5. Builds independent thinking 6. Augment research skills 7. Promotes growth mindset

Children are great thinkers and often have out of the box creative ideas which we lack. So to develop critical thinking skills in kids, we really just have to listen and be more open to our children’s thought process.

We need to assure that we do not dumb them down with our standardized way of thinking. These simple, fun games and play ideas can go a long way in nurturing this essential skill.

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