Helping Preschoolers to Develop Abstract Concepts
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During every developmental stage, your preschooler will learn to develop the ability to embrace abstract thinking. What is abstract thinking in child development? It’s allowing them to think beyond the mundane. Make the most use activities to encourage this line of thought.
Your kid might already be a concrete thinker. It is now time to allow him to explore abstract thinking. For him, the aim is to make him see a fortress where a sand castle lies. You can teach your child to think beyond, challenging his idea of reality. Are you ready to give shape to his thoughts?
Teaching Abstract Concepts to Kids
1. Giving Voice to Thoughts
When you are working out a problem in the house, verbalize it. You need to say what is on your mind when doing everyday activities. Ask your little one what else would he like in the new batch of cupcakes you are about to bake. Watch him give you great ideas.
2. Search for Explanations
When searching for explanation, don’t be afraid to ask ‘why ‘and ‘how’. You can ask your little one: “How did the ants get into the kitchen?” This will set your little one on a thinking trail. Your question will allow him to churn out some funny and fascinating explanations. So, never hesitate in encouraging abstract thinking in preschool children.
3. Encourage New Lines of Thinking
You can always encourage your child to search for new, abstract ways to think. Pose questions like: “Do you think there are other methods to build your car?” or “Can you think of ways to use the extra eggs lying in the fridge?” This is one of the best examples of abstract thinking in children.
4. Make Use of Analogies
One of the best ways of developing abstract thinking skills in children is by making a comparison between new situations and everyday examples. This will allow your child to make a connection between what he already knows and what he doesn’t. Ask questions like: “Does this episode remind you of a story I read to you some time ago?”
5. New Perspectives
Encourage your child to come up with new perspectives. You can ask him how he proposes to make new friends once he joins school. Posing this question could stimulate his brain to think of ways to make new friends. Perspectives are a great way to encourage abstract thinking in child development.
6. Tools to Stimulate Thinking
In order to stimulate abstract thinking, make use of diagrams and drawings to tangibly depict abstract concepts. The use of overlapping circles, better known as Venn Diagrams, will show your child a concrete way to contrast ideas.
7. Plan Problems
Work out a plan to ensure problem-solving on paper to help your child use representation to plot in a complicated way. When he becomes more confident with abstract thinking, withdraw support to boost cognitive creativity.
When do preschoolers develop abstract thinking? It depends on how early you want to start the learning process. Give them the space to think freely. Allow them to ask questions, and don’t reprimand them for not being quick learners.
