Some children keep dreaming all day long or, simply put, are lost in thought. This can be a source of worry for parents. Is it also the case with you? Worry not! Dreamers have their own strengths. You can always help your children transform themselves from dreamers into independent thinkers. Our late President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam once said, “Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life.” And that’s a good reason why you should raise your children to become thinkers. Being independent thinkers can also help them become great leaders like Bhagat Singh, Abdul Kalam or Mahatma Gandhi.

Let’s understand some of the ways through which we can raise our children to be independent thinkers. You can start by encouraging your children to make decisions from the choices you offer. This will give them the power to analyse and think about what can be the best for them; thus, enabling them to develop critical thinking skills. You can also get your child to put on his thinking cap and help plan your next trip or outing; getting him involved in the decision-making processes will encourage him to think at every opportunity. According to an article published in Psychology Today, 'You can provide your child with several essential ingredients for gaining independence:

• Give your children love and respect.
  
• Show confidence in your children's capabilities.
  
• Teach them that they have control over their lives.
  
• Provide guidance and then give them the freedom to make their own decisions.'
  

For more advice on how you can raise an independent thinker, flip through the pages of this ClipBook which contains the best curated links on the subject from across the web!