1. Make it visual and concrete
Children do not always understand abstract thinking hats very well at first.
- Use clear colours, pictograms and simple language.
- Hang visual posters or work with real hats or headbands.
- Child-friendly explanations work better than theory.
2. Build it slowly
Too many hats at once confuses younger children.
Start with 2 or 3 hats (e.g. white, red, yellow) and expand slowly.
- Less is more, especially in the beginning.
3. Give example-thinking
Children don’t know how to think properly at a particular hat this requires training and repetition. As a teacher, think out loud: ‘When I think with the black hat, I see that…’.
- Modelling helps tremendously in thinking development.
4. Alternate classroom and individual
Some children are afraid to speak out or follow others.
- Let children draw or write individually first and only then share. This way each child gets thinking space.
5. Use fixed routines
Children quickly lose the thread in the process.
Therefore, work with a fixed rhythm, e.g:
- 1. Choose hat
- 2. Ask question
- 3. Share answer
Repetition builds confidence.
6. Keep it short and energetic
Children lose focus in long sessions.
- Use a timer per hat (e.g. 3 minutes per line of thinking) and make sure there are active forms of work (drawing, moving, choosing cards) this ensures more involvement.
7. Encourage all thinking, including the ‘difficult’
Children often only want to think positively (yellow) or creatively (green).
- Explain that all hats are important – including critical thinking or allowing for feelings.
- Use examples where the black or red hat makes a difference.