The Dire Need to Encourage Lateral Thinking among the Young Generation Kids

by Samiksha S. Author

Our education system, for the longest time, has remained stuck on the concept of rote learning where the emphasis was primarily on memorizing and reproducing information. Though the system seems simple enough, the biggest issue was that it made students miss out on crucial skills like analyzing or researching information. As a result, students were seemingly lacking on the practical application of knowledge and the ability to innovate. This is where the concept of teaching lateral thinking to children came into existence and is gradually gaining its due significance in the education system.

What is lateral thinking?

The concept of lateral thinking, invented by Edward de Bono in the year 1967, focuses on the creation of new ideas from the known ideas. In other words, it promotes a systematic and deliberate way of creative thinking that leads to innovation of thoughts in a repeatable manner.

Now, you must be wondering why we, at Yuvashakti Model School, a renowned CBSE school in Rohini, Delhi, are such believers in a concept that was conceptualized more than fifty years back. What can be the relevance of such an idea in today’s day and age, and for the 21^st-century kids? So, let’s shed some light on the significance of lateral thinking among our young learners in this article today.

What is the need to emphasize on lateral thinking for our children?

A child who has the ability to think laterally has an advantage in every arena of life in the following ways:

Better problem-solving skills:
The solutions to the real-world issues do not come in any textbook or manual, and thus, thinking out of the box is the only available way in most cases. A lateral thinker is able to form a clear definition of the problem in mind, which lets him/her attain a wider set of solutions to rely on.

Greater efficiency at work:
Lateral thinking also enables the children to make the most out of the efforts they put in any direction, be it their academics, sports, or future professions. And, since it encourages them to find better ways of doing things, they become more capable of achieving the goals that are seemingly difficult to reach.

Enhanced psychological competence:
We, at Yuvashakti, have noticed that lateral thinkers also showcase a greater degree of psychological competence. As such, they are more capable of making effective changes to their behaviors and environments, instead of simply adapting or adjusting to the circumstances as they come along the way.

The first step towards innovations:
It would be wrong to assume that lateral thinking is merely improving something that is already there. A lateral thinker looks at everything from an absolutely different perspective, which helps them create something that is more valuable: a mark found in every great inventor and creator through the ages.

A greater thirst for knowledge:
Lateral thinker inherently builds a greater thirst for knowledge as such a learner understands the importance of getting to the depths of a subject. A lateral thinker is thus also a self-learner and a seeker of knowledge.

Offers a competitive advantage:
The ability to think laterally gives an individual a definite advantage over others in every field, and that especially applies to the professional sphere. After all, the top-notch companies look for individuals who are not afraid to go off the beaten path.

We, at Yuvashakti Model School, one among the leading schools in Rohini, Sector 3, firmly believe that lateral thinking has to be encouraged from a young age among children by offering them an environment that is conducive to creative thought processes. When lateral thinking is encouraged among them, they learn to soar with their wings of innovations. All they need is our motivation and faith in their abilities. And, at Yuvashakti, we always ensure to offer our young buds an environment where such inspiration and belief are never withheld from them.