“As kids grow, metacognition is like their thinking guide, and Skill Neurons' games are their fun tools. Together, they help kids become smarter thinkers for a bright future.”
Every parent has a heartfelt wish – they want to see their child not only succeed but also be happy in their journey through life. The dream is to watch them flourish, achieve their goals, and find contentment along the way. This dream isn't just something some parents want. It's a dream that all parents from all around the world hope for, no matter where they come from or how old they are.
One of the important aspects for achieving this dream is by nurturing metacognition from a young age. Some of you might wonder what metacognition is. How can it be fostered in children? In this blog post, we'll explore the concept of metacognition, its significance, and how Skill Neurons' games play a pivotal role in this crucial cognitive and emotional development process.
Understanding Metacognition
Metacognition means “The ability to think about thinking.”
To put it simply, it's about understanding and controlling your thought processes, which is an invaluable skill for lifelong learning and success. Does it sound complicated? Let’s look at some everyday examples that will also help you realise how it plays an important role in a child's cognitive development.
Better Learning
Metacognition is when a child knows what they know and what they don’t. For example, while studying, your child says, “I know Topic ‘A’ well, but I am struggling to understand Topic ‘B’ and I need more help doing it.” This awareness is metacognition in action.
When children can recognise what they know and what they need to learn, they become better learners. They can focus their efforts on areas that need improvement, making learning more efficient.
Problem Solving
Metacognition is about how you plan and approach to solve a problem. For example, a child is working on a big project, they break it down into smaller steps, plan in advance on what they will work on and when. Think about any obstacles that might arise and plan around it.
Metacognition enables children to plan and strategize. They break down complex tasks into manageable steps. They think ahead and make a plan which is like thinking about thinking before you even start.
Reflecting on Feelings
Metacognition is not just about thinking, it’s also about feelings. It plays an important role when it comes to understanding and managing our emotions. For example, when a child is upset, they might ask themselves, “Why am I feeling this way and what can I do about it?”
Children learn to reflect on their feelings, why they're feeling a certain way, and work on ways to help cope with those emotions.
Metacognition - Lifelong Skill
Metacognition is a lifelong skill. It is a skill children can use in school, with friends, and in life as they grow up. In a nutshell, metacognition is like having a superpower for thinking. It's when your child becomes not just a thinker but a smart thinker who can understand, plan, adjust, and even handle their feelings better.
Encouraging metacognition from a young age sets the stage for your child's cognitive and emotional growth.
Skill Neurons' Games and Metacognition
As much as we emphasise the importance of metacognition, it’s a skill that can be developed only with practice. Skill Neurons offers a remarkable lineup of card games that seamlessly weave metacognition into their fabric. Let's explore how each game contributes to this vital cognitive and emotional development:
Know Thy Self
Know Thy Self encourages self-awareness through thought-provoking questions. Players think about their own thoughts, emotions and behaviours. Questions on feelings like, “What makes you feel joyful? Why?” prompts you to engage in self-reflection. It helps you understand your own strengths and preferences. For example, one child might say when they solve puzzles quickly it brings them joy. But this simple answer lays the foundation stone for metacognition. It helps you recognise how different tasks, thoughts and emotions play a role and can influence us.
Would You Rather
Would You Rather sharpens decision-making skills and critical thinking. Children ponder intriguing scenarios, make choices, and consider different perspectives. It fosters an understanding of how their choices are influenced by their thinking. For example, a question might sound funny but can lead to an interesting thought process in a young mind. “Would you rather fly or be invisible?” The player has to think, consider alternative viewpoints and make a choice. This encourages them to think critically, make informed decisions and develop an understanding on how their choices affect themselves and others. This process of considering your thought process and reasoning behind decision making is key to building metacognition.
Mindful ME
In a world filled with distractions and stress, Mindful Me guides children using different mindfulness techniques that promote relaxation and emotional well-being. They learn to recognise and manage their emotions, a crucial component of metacognition. For example, a mindfulness prompt might instruct them to take deep breaths and focus on the present moment. Through such exercises, children learn to become aware of their emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations. They can recognise when they're feeling anxious or stressed and employ strategies to manage these emotions.
Brain Breaks
Brain Breaks activities offer children a chance to refresh their minds and have a mental reset. When children take these short breaks, it rejuvenates their thinking, reduces stress, and enhances focus. For example, a brain break could be a quick creative activity. But this small break helps them recharge and when they return to the task at hand, they can reflect on how the break helped them think more clearly and perform better. It teaches them the importance of self-regulation and how it impacts their cognitive functions.
Summary
Metacognition is a superpower for young minds, and it's a skill that sets the stage for a promising future. Using metacognitive thinking enables children to become flexible, creative and self-directed learners. It helps them make better connections to prior knowledge and develop new inter-connections. Metacognition also improves higher-order thinking skills.
Incorporating Skill Neurons’ games into a child’s routine from an early age fosters their metacognitive skills that are vital for success in academics and also in their social interactions. Through these games children can develop the ability to understand their thinking, make informed decisions and manage their emotions effectively. So, let's encourage our children to think about their thinking and watch them flourish into bright, capable individuals.