Kids and Thinking Errors (Part 2)

 

Another thinking error kids use that follow closely with jumping to conclusions is blaming.  Children’s ability to discern intent or culpability is not developed.  Emily may have accidentally bumped into Ben on the playground, but Ben naturally assumes that Emily did it on purpose because he can only see the end result of himself being hurt.

Though the developmental stages of a young child’s brain make it hard for them to be capable of truly accurate thought, it is important to constantly work with them on it in order that as they grow and mature, an accurate way of processing thoughts can develop as well.  One excellent way of encouraging accurate thoughts in children is to practice role playing using situations that are not immediately personal to the child.  This can give them time to think things through and rationalize the events in their minds when they do not feel any personal threat connected to them.  These scenarios can then be referred back to when an actual situation requiring accurate thought arises.

Above all, it is important for parents and teachers to maintain constant dialogue with children regarding expectations and consequences.  Modeling accurate thought patterns and identifying true cause and effect relationships will help teach children how to work through conflicts on their own.