ANSWER TO THE FIRST QUESTION:

Reflective and critical thinking is the ability to think deeply and comprehensively about something. These skills can be developed in children as young as 3-5 years old.

Here are five ways that children aged 3-5 years can show reflective and critical thinking:

**1. ** Asking questions

Children who demonstrate reflective and critical thinking will often ask questions. These questions can be about the world around them, about themselves, or about things they do not understand.

Academically, the ability of children to ask questions shows that they have a high level of curiosity. This curiosity is one of the foundations of reflective and critical thinking.

Examples of questions that can be asked by children aged 3-5 years:

• Why is the sky blue?
• Why can't I fly?
• Why does my cat like to chase its tail?
• Why does water flow?
• Why do I have to take a bath?

**2. ** Experimenting

Children who demonstrate reflective and critical thinking will be eager to explore the world around them. They will try new things and see what happens.

Academically, the ability of children to explore shows that they have a desire to learn and find out. This desire is also one of the foundations of reflective and critical thinking.

Examples of experiments that can be done by children aged 3-5 years:

• Mixing different colours to see what colour will be produced
• Comparing the weight of different objects
• Observing how water flows
• Trying different ways to solve a problem

**3. ** Forming hypotheses

Children who demonstrate reflective and critical thinking will be able to form hypotheses, which are guesses about what will happen.

Academically, the ability of children to form hypotheses shows that they can think logically. This ability is also one of the foundations of reflective and critical thinking.

Examples of hypotheses that can be formed by children aged 3-5 years:

• If I hit this ball hard, will it fly farther?
• If I mix water and oil, will they mix?
• If I put a rock on paper, will the paper get wet?

**4. ** Testing hypotheses

Children who demonstrate reflective and critical thinking will test their hypotheses by conducting experiments.

Academically, the ability of children to test hypotheses shows that they can think critically. This ability is also one of the foundations of reflective and critical thinking.

Examples of experiments that can be done to test hypotheses:

• Hitting a ball hard and seeing if it flies farther
• Mixing water and oil and seeing if they mix
• Putting a rock on paper and seeing if the paper gets wet

**5. ** Accepting or rejecting hypotheses

Children who demonstrate reflective and critical thinking will accept or reject their hypotheses based on the results of their experiments.

Academically, the ability of children to accept or reject hypotheses shows that they can think objectively. This ability is also one of the foundations of reflective and critical thinking.

Examples of acceptance or rejection of hypotheses:

• If the ball does not fly farther after being struck, then the hypothesis that the ball will fly farther if struck will be rejected.
• If water and oil mix, then the hypothesis that water and oil will not mix will be rejected.
• If the paper does not get wet after the rock is placed on it, then the hypothesis that the paper will get wet if the rock is placed on it will be rejected.

The importance of developing reflective and critical thinking in children

Developing reflective and critical thinking in children is critical because it can provide them with benefits in the future. These benefits include:

• Improving problem-solving skills
• Improving creativity
• Improving learning skills
• Improving adaptation skills
• Improving decision-making skills

How to develop reflective and critical thinking in children

There are several ways to develop reflective and critical thinking in children, including:

• Ask open-ended questions
• Provide opportunities for exploration
• Provide opportunities for forming hypotheses
• Provide opportunities for testing hypotheses
• Provide opportunities for accepting or rejecting hypotheses

In addition, parents and teachers can also provide examples of reflective and critical thinking. This can be done by showing curiosity, asking questions, and trying new things.

ANSWER TO THE SECOND QUESTION

The best method for developing reflective and critical thinking in children aged 3-5 years is the experimental method. This method is the most natural and enjoyable for children at this age.

Why is the experimental method the best method?

There are several reasons why the experimental method is the best method for developing reflective and critical thinking in children aged 3-5 years, namely:

• The experimental method is in line with the cognitive development of children aged 3-5 years. At this age, children begin to develop a high level of curiosity and a desire to explore the world around them. Experimentation is the right way to satisfy this curiosity and desire.
• The experimental method can help children develop critical thinking skills. In experiments, children are required to think logically and systematically to formulate hypotheses, test hypotheses, and conclude.
• The experimental method can help children develop problem-solving skills. In experiments, children are trained to find solutions to the problems they face.

How do we apply the experimental method to children aged 3-5 years?

Here are some tips for applying the experimental method to children aged 3-5 years:

• Choose experiments that are appropriate for the child's interests and abilities. Experiments that are too difficult or too easy will make the child uninterested in following them.
• Explain the purpose of the experiment to the child. This will help the child to understand what they are doing and why they are doing it.
• Give the child the opportunity to explore and find their answers. Do not force the child to follow your opinion.
• Give the child praise and support. This will help the child to feel confident and motivated to learn.

Here are some examples of experiments that can be done by children aged 3-5 years:

• Mixing different colours to see what colour will be produced.
• Comparing the weight of different objects.
• Observing how water flows.
• Trying different ways to solve a problem.

By applying the experimental method, you can help your children develop reflective and critical thinking from an early age.

Here are some additional notes on the experimental method:

• The experimental method should be designed to be safe and age-appropriate.
• The child should be given the opportunity to ask questions and make observations during the experiment.
• The child should be encouraged to conclude from the results of the experiment.

By following these tips, you can help your child develop the skills they need to think reflectively and critically about the world around them.

Thanks, Ilham Ilham for your detailed response. One quick question does this fall within a prescribed theoretical model or from research? If it is specific research can I ask you to send me the reference?

One effective approach is to observe children during classroom activities and document their thinking and questioning behaviors. For example, when engaged in a science experiment, are they asking probing questions about why certain things happen? Are they considering alternative hypotheses? Evaluating conflicting ideas? Thinking through implications? Tracking these observable behaviors provides insight into their development.

Conducting one-on-one conversations with individual children is also illuminating. By prompting them to explain their reasoning on opinions, making connections between concepts, or discussing stories, you can gain concrete examples of critical analysis abilities. Their ability to recognize different perspectives, weigh validity, identify assumptions, and explain their rationales all provide meaningful data.

Additionally, engaging children in reflective exercises, such as journaling or discussion prompts, gives them an opportunity to verbalize their thinking, learning, and problem-solving processes in a more structured way. Their responses reveal the depth of metacognitive skills. Open-ended prompts allow for diverse responses.

No single approach provides a complete picture. But used in concert - observation, individual conversations, reflective prompts, sample work products, and reports from those that know the child best - can help build a robust profile of a child's critical thinking skills and development over time. Taking a holistic approach is key.

Thanks for this Usmankhan Pathan I am currently writing my methodology section for my proposal and will tick off the points you have made to ensure I have them there