The idea of “16 Habits of Mind” has been around for a while! In the 80s and 90s, researchers, Art Costa and Bena Kallick began to piece together their findings on the development of thinking from the different social sciences they both studied. Allison Zmuda joined their team, and developing 16 Habits of Mind became a way to organize and view the skills, behaviors, and dispositions that were necessary to develop thinkers. A friend recently asked me, “Does my child really need to go to school, to learn to multiply and memorize the state capitals?” In most instances, No, but your child does need to go to school to develop their thinking, to learn creative thinking, critical thinking, analytic thinking, and reflective thinking! How we think is important!
Costa, Kallick, and Zumda have outlined 16 Habits of Mind that are important thinking skills for all learners–Nana and Papa need to talk about Flexible Thinking too!
Annotated Habits of Mind – descriptions of each of the 16 Habits of Mind
Apply this to Parenting
You can download the 17-page Habits of Mind Explanation for parents. Here are 4 that I focus on with our toddler and preschooler! Can you choose one and work it into your household this month?
Thinking Flexibly
We talk about this Habit of Mind frequently with our 4 -yr-old. When life is not going to plan, and we need to adjust our plan-that is flexible thinking. We use the words “Flexible Thinking Hat” in our house. You could say, “Hmm, that can be really frustrating when you don’t get to have spaghetti for dinner. And I know that is what you were hoping for. What might other options look like if you put on your flexible thinking hat? Would enchiladas work for you tonight and spaghetti tomorrow?”
Persistence
The willingness to try again, and then again, and sometimes again is a very useful skill for all of us. We teach the word in our house. We say things like “Wow, look at that drawing. You had to persevere when it didn’t happen for you the way you wanted the first time. How did you have the energy to keep trying again? Are you proud of how you were persistent with it?”
Wonderment and Awe
Children and naturally very capable of this, somehow formal education, schooling, and age seem to make this dwindle! Follow their lead on this one! “Momma! Did you see this leaf? It is amazing. Look at the color and the lines on it. Isn’t that neat!” How we respond helps them navigate how important this is. Do we say, “Oh that’s nice honey. Mommy is making dinner right now.” Or do we stop, pause our adult life, get down on one knee to be eye level, and say “Oh my, would you look at that! Look at those colors, and the shape the leaf makes. I wonder where what tree it came from and how it got here.” Do we give weight and meaning to their wondering?
Using our Senses
“Most learning comes from the environment by observing or taking it in through the senses.” (Habits of Mind Institute, 2022). Encourage the full experience of learning by using and stimulating all our 7 senses.
Happy Thinking!
Resources
The Habits of Mind Institute is a great resource for a deep dive into developing habits of mind, both in children and in ourselves.