Teaching Children How to Think, Not Just What to Think

As parents, it’s natural to focus on what our children are learning. We celebrate when they can read a new book, master their times tables or write a fantastic story. These milestones are important and deserve to be celebrated.

Behind every successful learner is something even more important… the ability to think.

Many children can remember facts, complete familiar tasks and follow routines with confidence. However, when they’re asked to explain their thinking, solve an unfamiliar problem or apply what they already know in a new situation, they often become stuck.

This isn’t because they aren’t capable. It’s because successful learning relies on much more than knowledge alone.

What Are Higher Order Thinking Skills?

Higher Order Thinking Skills are the thinking processes children use to understand, analyse and apply what they know.

These skills help children to:

• solve unfamiliar problems
• explain and justify their thinking
• identify patterns and relationships
• make connections between ideas
• draw conclusions
• think creatively
• apply their learning in new situations.

Rather than simply remembering information, children learn how to use that information in meaningful ways.

Why Do These Skills Matter?

As children move through school, learning becomes less about recalling facts and more about thinking deeply. For example, it’s wonderful when a child knows that 7 × 8 = 56.

But successful learners also know:

• when multiplication is the best strategy to use
• why multiplication works in that situation
• how to explain their reasoning
• how to apply that understanding to a completely different problem.

The same is true in reading and writing.

Strong readers don’t simply recognise words, they infer, predict, question and connect ideas.

Strong writers don’t simply write sentences, they organise their thinking, justify their opinions and communicate ideas clearly.

These thinking skills underpin success across every learning area.

Can Children Learn to Think More Deeply?

Absolutely.

Just as children are explicitly taught to read, write and solve mathematical problems, they can also be explicitly taught how to think.

At Seeds of Knowledge, we believe children develop these skills when they are encouraged to:

• ask questions
• explore different possibilities
• explain their thinking
• solve authentic problems
• persevere when something feels challenging
• learn from mistakes rather than fear them.

These opportunities help children become more confident, curious and independent learners.

Looking Beyond the Right Answer

One of the biggest shifts we can make as parents and educators is moving our focus from simply asking, “Did you get it right?” to asking, “How did you work that out?”

When children explain their thinking, they’re doing far more than giving an answer. They’re organising ideas, making connections, reflecting on their choices and strengthening their understanding.

These are the moments where real learning happens.

The Skills Behind Successful Learning

At Seeds of Knowledge, we believe that academic success is built on more than reading, writing and maths.

Children also need confidence to have a go, resilience when learning feels difficult, curiosity to ask questions and the ability to think critically when faced with something unfamiliar.

These are the skills behind successful learning.

When we intentionally develop them, children don’t just become better students—they become more capable, independent learners who are prepared to embrace challenges throughout their lives.

If you’d like your child to strengthen these thinking skills in a fun, engaging environment, our HOT4Learning Holiday Program has been designed specifically to develop Higher Order Thinking Skills through games, hands-on challenges and collaborative learning experiences.

At Seeds of Knowledge we know that, great learners don’t just know the answers…they know how to think.