Which strategy best supports children’s abstract thinking in language?

The most effective strategy for supporting children's abstract thinking in language is found in engaging in interactive storytelling. This approach encourages children to think beyond the literal events of a story and explore characters' motivations, emotions, and underlying themes. As children participate in storytelling, they are invited to interpret meaning, make predictions, and conjecture about what might happen next, enhancing their ability to think abstractly.

Interactive storytelling also promotes discussion and encourages children to articulate their thoughts and feelings about the narrative, which fosters deeper cognitive connections. Through this interactive engagement, children practice constructing narratives and understanding how language conveys complex ideas and emotions, crucial components of abstract thinking.

While visual aids can enhance comprehension of concrete concepts and facilitate language understanding, they may not prompt the same level of abstract thought as storytelling. Rhyming games focus more on phonemic awareness and sound patterns rather than abstract reasoning. Asking comprehension questions can help check for understanding, but they may not necessarily stimulate deeper or more abstract thinking without the context provided by interactive storytelling.