Inferencing and predicting are essential skills that enable children to make sense of the world around them, understand narratives, and engage critically with information. As parents, nurturing these skills in our school-aged children lays a strong foundation for academic success and lifelong learning. 

In this post, we'll explore what inferencing and predicting entail, why they're important, and practical strategies for supporting your child's development in these areas.

Understanding Inferencing and Predicting

Inferencing involves drawing conclusions or making educated guesses based on available information and prior knowledge. It requires children to analyse clues, make connections, and fill in gaps to understand implicit meanings or outcomes. 

Predicting, on the other hand, involves anticipating future events or outcomes based on evidence and logical reasoning.

Importance of Inferencing and Predicting

• Comprehension Skills: Proficient inferencing and predicting abilities are crucial for understanding written texts, including narratives, stories, and informational passages. They allow children to grasp deeper meanings, infer character motivations, and anticipate plot developments.
• Critical Thinking: Inferencing and predicting foster critical thinking skills by encouraging children to analyse information, evaluate evidence, and make logical deductions. These skills are essential for problem-solving, decision-making, and academic success across various subjects.
• Reading Engagement: Children who can effectively infer and predict while reading are more likely to be engaged and motivated learners. They enjoy deciphering mysteries, unravelling plot twists, and anticipating outcomes, which enhances their reading experience and fosters a love for literacy.
• Real-World Application: Beyond the classroom, inferencing and predicting skills are valuable in everyday life. They enable children to make informed decisions, anticipate consequences, and navigate social interactions by interpreting verbal and nonverbal cues.
• Future Success: Strong inferencing and predicting abilities are predictors of academic achievement and future success. They lay the groundwork for advanced comprehension, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills that are essential in higher education and the workforce.

Strategies for Parents

1. Model Thinking Aloud: Demonstrate inferencing and predicting skills by verbalising your thoughts while reading or watching movies together. Discuss the clues, evidence, and reasoning behind your conclusions.
2. Encourage Active Reading: Prompt your child to ask questions, make predictions, and draw inferences while reading. Encourage them to support their predictions with evidence from the text.
3. Explore Cause and Effect: Engage in discussions about cause-and-effect relationships in stories or real-life scenarios. Encourage your child to predict potential outcomes based on different actions or events.
4. Provide Diverse Texts: Expose your child to a variety of reading materials, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and informational texts. This broadens their exposure to different contexts, genres, and perspectives, enhancing their inferencing and predicting skills.
5. Foster Curiosity: Encourage curiosity and critical thinking by asking open-ended questions, encouraging exploration, and providing opportunities for hands-on learning experiences.

Inferencing and predicting are invaluable cognitive skills that empower children to comprehend, analyse, and engage with the world around them. By fostering these skills at home, parents play a pivotal role in supporting their child's academic success, critical thinking abilities, and lifelong love for learning. 

Embrace opportunities for discussion, exploration, and active engagement to cultivate your child's inferencing and predicting prowess - it's a journey that leads to endless possibilities and enriching experiences.