Being able to think about what you see around you and making up your own mind about what you need to do is an essential survival skill. Based on how your homeschooling children perceive and process knowledge they will be able to make good or bad decisions in the future. Getting the right information and making informed opinions based on this gathered data is the goal of receiving a good education. Now how do you encourage your children to think for themselves? Here are some ideas that can get you started.
Give Your Homeschool Student a Book to Read
Books are a great source of knowledge and by getting into the habit of reading early in life your homeschool student will have a great tool handy anytime he requires information in the future. Not sure what books you should use? There is a great list of books children should read compiled by the BBC available on their website. Just look for the list in your search engine and then pick out the ones that you feel your child would enjoy, and what could initiate a good debate once the book has been read. You will have to read the book as well, so that you can put up a good debate.
Introduce Them to Art and Music
Attending a play, listening to a musical recital, walking through an art gallery are all experiences that allow your homeschool student to think about what they saw. Engage them in discussions of what they liked and did not. Ask them to think about five reasons to support their choice. For instance show them an acclaimed painting such as the Mona Lisa. Then ask them for their opinion on the art work. After they have registered their likes and dislikes, give them the history of the artist and the supposed mystery behind her smile. Now again engage in conversation about how their perception of the painting has changed in the light of this new knowledge.
Each of these activities allows your homeschool student to think for himself and decide what he likes and does not, allowing him to form individual opinions that he can defend with ease.
