Critical Thinking in Primary School

The brain in the most complex organ in the human body. The reasoning part of the brain isn't fully developed till the age of 25 give or take. Before that the brain is growing and developing. The frontal lobe deals with motor function, problem solving, spontaneity, memory, language, reasoning, judgment, impulse control, and social and sexual behavior. It is considered to be our emotional control center and home to our personality.

Children that are in primary school are just starting down their educational path. With their frontal lobes not developed yet they are more prone to emotional outburst and are unable to properly engage in logical reasoning.

With a fully developed frontal lobe a person can think ahead, plan, and weigh the risks and rewards involved in reasoning and thinking critically. A child in primary school has a disadvantage because their frontal lobe isn't completely wired yet to deal with everyday problems.

Some people think primary school is a good time to start teaching our children to think critically. http://www.rubies-scientific.com/critical_thinking/critical_thinking_in_elementary.htm I don't think critical thinking skills should be taught in primary school. These children still need to learn the facts. They need to learn what is right and what is wrong. And they are still learning the ways of our society. It is similar to learning to walk. A person will stumble around and fall a couple of times before they can walk. I believe that is how critical thinking skills are personally developed. Stumbling around until the brain is properly wired and ready to deal with life's problems.

There are two waves of overproduction of gray matter in the brain. The first only lasts a brief period of 18 months and starts in the womb. The second wave starts between the ages of 11 and 12. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publication After this time the brain begins to dispose of the neural connections that aren't being used. In my opinion we should begin to teach children to think critically in middle school. I believe their brain is developed enough at this point to benefit from being taught to think critically and use reasoning skills. There life experiences up to that point help to teach them reason.