I am a huge fan of challenging what I am taught. I truly believe that there is more than one way to skin a cat. This was a thought I carried all through school, college, and into my professional life. It is something I want to pass on to my children, but how do you that for a preschooler?
Nothing frustrated more in school than the teacher telling me I got the answer correct, but the process was wrong. I never understood this or liked it and often rebelled. I do not want to turn my five-year old princess into an academic thug; however, I want to teach her to seek other opinions when she learns something.
It all starts with discovering what she has been taught. I have not ventured into her school curriculum just yet and have been focusing on what she hears on TV primarily. I do not want to foster a lack of respect towards her teacher.
To do this, I ask her about a show she just watched where they solve a problem. Doc McStuffins’ latest diagnosis is a great springboard. First, I ask her what the problem was. Have her walk me through what the Doc discovered.
Next, I ask her how the Doc came to that conclusion. What steps did she do to find out what was wrong with the sick toy? What was the cause of the injury?
Now, I have her tell me if she thought that was the right answer. How would you have examined the patient? What questions would you have asked? Etc. Brace yourself, there is not likely to be a ground-breaking medical discovery leaving the lips of your child. However, this does force her to reflect on a problem and then come up with her own solution and 99% of the time it is the same outcome as to what she saw on the TV.
This four step process really works as a reflection tool. Step one: what was the problem? Step two: What was the conclusion? Step three: what steps were taken to get to the conclusion? Step four: would you have done something different?
It is a simple exercise to do and really works best with preschoolers on a step by step problem. It is the same process I use when I am on the job. It has not failed me and I want my children to learn to reflect on what they learn and not believe everything they read or hear.