Lateral Thinking - Empowering Children with Maximum Thinking Power

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Hi,
Our children, both in the school and at home, are trained to think in a vertical way. Analytical, sequential and logical, vertical thinkers usually traverse a path that the others have left behind. In other words, vertical thinking is a traditional way of finding solutions to problems. Finding solutions to problems need not be too systematic and traditional. Another mode of thinking, lateral thinking, is also a wonderful tool to find practical solutions to more complex problems.

Some people are classical lateral thinkers, who keep flipping existing problems to find most practical solutions. In essence, they are capable of looking at a problem through its many sides and dimensions and in an entirely different way. With a non- traditional outlook, lateral thinking is the new way of thinking in a creative manner.

Children, who know how to think laterally, usually throw hundreds of questions that contains important keywords like “what”, “how”, “why”, “when”, “what if”, “how does”, “why is” and “when would” to elicit rapid answers to complex questions. In a sense, lateral thinkers are different, effective, special, result oriented and probing in their attitude. All the best.

Thought for today:
"Creativity is a great motivator because it makes people interested in what they are doing. Creativity gives hope that there can be a worthwhile idea. Creativity gives the possibility of some sort of achievement to everyone. Creativity makes life more fun and more interesting." - Edward de Bono

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Lateral Thinking - Empowering Children with Maximum Thinking Power
Lateral thinking is an unusual way of thinking that leads to learning an important cognitive skill of the brain. Although indirect in its approach, lateral thinking is highly effective and result oriented. Click to learn more.

Lateral Thinking - Simple Techniques and Methods to Learn the Art
Many problems in life need a fresh and different perspective to solve in a successful manner. Lateral thinking involves using ideas that might never be visualized in the normal course of life. Read the article to learn more.

Q1: My 8-year-old is being considered for a gifted program. His WISC-IV results show a wide variation. Can you help me interpret them? Would you suspect a twice exceptional combination with the difference in the scores or what might contribute to matrix reasoning being so low? Thank you.

A: From the score breakdown, it appears that your child has scores that indicate “very superior” on the VCI (130 is cut-off start for very superior); “average” on the PRI, “superior” on the WMI (120 is cut-off start for superior); and “high average” on the PSI. His FSIQ indicates “superior” scores..... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Interpretation of the WISC-IV Scores here.

Q2: My daughter's kbit-2 results are:
Verbal standard score 85
Non verbal standard score 113
Total iq composite 99

What does it means? Does my daughter have disability in anything?

A: The Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition (K-BIT 2) is used to measure verbal and nonverbal cognitive ability. It is used to obtain a quick estimate of intelligence, estimate an individual's verbal versus nonverbal intelligence and/or to screen to identify students who may benefit from enrichment or gifted programs... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Low Verbal Scores on K-BIT 2 here.

Q3: My 4 year old began reading around 15 months old. He taught himself all of the states and capitals in America and all of the countries of the world before he turned 3. He also taught himself all of the flags of every country in the world before he turned 3. He also taught himself to spell all 50 states and nearly all of the countries. What am I supposed to do with him?.

A: Thank you for the link – it was quite impressive that your son is able to do all that at such a tender age. There is no doubt that your son has above average skills and among the distinct qualities of a gifted child is the ability to learn quickly with an excellent memory.... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Excellent Memory here.

Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step
By Dr. Edward de Bono

The first practical explanation of how creativity works, this results-oriented bestseller trains listeners to move beyond a "vertical" mode of thought to tap the potential of lateral thinking. Edward de Bono has had faculty appointments at the universities of Oxford, London, Cambridge and Harvard. He is widely regarded as the leading authority in the direct teaching of thinking as a skill.

Dr. Edward de Bono is regarded as the leading international authority in the field of conceptual thinking and also the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. He originated the concept of "lateral thinking," which is now officially recognized in the Oxford English Dictionary-and which contributed to the success of the 1984 Olympic Games.

Serious Creativity: Using the Power of Lateral Thinking to Create New Ideas
By Dr. Edward De Bono

De Bono's term "lateral thinking" (the title of a previous book) refers to problem-solving by apparently illogical methods. In a fertile user's manual to the mind, de Bono, a prolific author and business consultant, tackles creative thought as a skill that can be taught, a systematic process of breaking free of old concepts and finding alternatives. In an informal, discursive style, he presents an arsenal of techniques for cultivating ideas and harvesting the usable ones to avoid mixed metaphor; also, harvest is late stage of agricultural process, so should come after 'nurture' or 'cultivation'.

Rooted in his theory that creativity flows out of the way human perception works as a self-organizing information system, these techniques include random word generation, multiple focuses, "provocations" that provide a novel framework through which to look at things, and the "six hats method" encouraging cooperative exploration instead of adversarial thinking.

The secret to a smarter baby? Iodine!
Daily Mail May 27, 2014

Recent studies show that many American women have too little iodine and if pregnant, is a deficiency that may affect their child's brain development.

Old-time children's games are best for a child's development
SnoValley Star June 04, 2014

Kerry Beymer, who has been teaching moms and dads parenting practices for 15 years, recently learned a new trick herself: The old-time games are best for child development.

Thoughtful Parenting: Not more brain development
Steam Boat Today May 11, 2014

Are you ready to put all you've learned about brain development to good use with your children? Remembering the basics of brain development, its progress from lower to higher functioning as well as its dependence on experience, will be helpful when you choose how to manage your children's challenging behavior.

Gifted or Hard-Working? Which is Better for Long-Term Success for our Children?
Huffington Post May 27, 2014

Giftedness is revered in our culture and viewed as a guarantee to a child's future success. Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth.

Study links lower IQ to fire retardants
Poughkeepsie Journal Jun 1, 2014

A new study bolsters the concerns of some scientists that hazardous levels of fire retardants in furniture and other products may harm children before they are born.

Thyroid disorders can lead to lower IQ in babies
DNA May 28, 2014

If a two-month-old baby is detected with the ailment, he would have already lost 40-45 points on IQ. Also, babies born to mothers with thyroid disorders (about 8-10% pregnant women) are at the risk of thyroidism, if not treated well during pregnancy.

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