Teach Kids Critical Thinking Skills Through Educational Activities
This post has been republished: Originally published in 2017
Kids naturally love collecting things, and my family is no exception. In 2017, Pick n Pay launched their South African Super Animals Cards, an initiative aimed at educating kids about South Africa’s incredible wildlife. While the concept was exciting, the promotion had notable flaws that serve as a great example of why it’s essential to teach kids critical thinking.
This article revisits the campaign’s errors and emphasizes the importance of helping children develop the skills to question and verify information effectively.
The Activity That Inspired a Lesson
The Pick n Pay South African Super Animals Cards were marketed as a fun, educational tool to teach kids about various animals—their habitats, lifespans, sizes, speeds, and vulnerabilities. The cards even came with a Sound Card Reader, which played animal sounds when a card was swiped. As a homeschooling mom, I set aside time for my children (then aged 4, 6, and 8) to explore the cards and learn about the animals.
However, it didn’t take long for us to notice issues. Some of the statistics on the cards didn’t add up, such as an Arctic Tern allegedly weighing 125 kilograms (rather than 125 grams). Even the photos were occasionally wrong, like a European Alpine Ibex mislabeled as a Steenbok. These errors sparked questions and frustration—but also an opportunity to teach my kids an invaluable skill: critical thinking.
Read this article or this one, for more details on the errors found in Pick n Pay Super Animals cards.
Why Critical Thinking Matters
Educational materials, no matter how professional they appear, can contain errors. Teaching kids to think critically about the information they encounter is crucial for several reasons:
- Promotes Independent Thought: Critical thinking helps kids analyze, evaluate, and question the world around them instead of blindly accepting information.
- Encourages Research Skills: Children learn to seek additional sources and verify facts.
- Builds Problem-Solving Abilities: Evaluating inaccuracies can lead to creative thinking and deeper understanding.
These skills aren’t just important for spotting errors in educational tools. They’re essential life skills that will serve your kids well in school, work, and daily life.
Turning Errors Into Teachable Moments
Here’s how I used the mistakes in the Pick n Pay cards as teaching moments:
Questioning the Facts: When the kids spotted that a small bird couldn’t weigh the same as an ostrich, we researched the actual weights of both animals together. This encouraged them to trust their instincts and investigate further.
Cross-Checking Sources: We compared information from the cards with reliable resources, such as wildlife websites and books. This taught them the value of verifying information.
Discussing Logical Flaws: One activity involved creating a “Circle of Life,” but the pieces never fit logically. This led to conversations about food chains and ecosystems, helping them understand how these work in reality.
Understanding Human Error: We discussed how even professionals make mistakes and how companies respond (or fail to respond) to feedback. This helped them learn the importance of accountability and communication.
Tips for Teaching Critical Thinking Through Activities
Here are a few strategies to help your kids develop critical thinking skills:
- Encourage Questions: Create a safe environment where kids feel comfortable questioning what they see or hear.
- Do Research Together: Make a habit of looking up facts together. Use encyclopedias, credible websites, or library books.
- Play Detective: Turn fact-checking into a game. Ask your kids to find errors or inconsistencies in stories, games, or educational materials.
- Discuss Media Literacy: Teach kids to evaluate sources of information, including advertisements, TV shows, and online content.
- Model Critical Thinking: Show them how you analyze and verify information in your daily life.
One fun and effective way to promote critical thinking in children is through sensory play. For instance, Kinetic Sand not only helps with sensory processing but also encourages problem-solving and creativity. Learn more about the benefits of Kinetic Sand for sensory play here.
Final Thoughts
While the Pick n Pay Super Animals Cards had their flaws, they gave my family an unexpected gift: the chance to practice critical thinking together. By questioning the information presented and seeking out the truth, my kids learned valuable lessons about research, logic, and discernment.
As parents, we can’t always control the quality of the materials our children encounter. But we can empower them with the tools to evaluate information critically and independently. That’s a skill that will benefit them for a lifetime.
What activities or moments have you used to teach your kids critical thinking? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
Views: 38
A good review of the product with honest concerns. I hope all the major retailers out there take note that people are watching.