Thinking Skills and Early Child Education

This text offers a rationale for the popular idea among teachers and researchers that young children should be taught critical thinking and argument in the early years of their education. The author evaluates the aims and purposes of early years education, referring in particular to the development of thinking skills. He looks at how teachers can foster such skills in young children through the teaching of personal, social and moral education, philosophy and argument. The concept of citizenship education in the early years and the development of initial and in-service teacher education programmes are examined.