THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DEVELOPING INDEPENDENT THINKING SKILLS IN PRIMARY EDUCATION

This article analyzes the pedagogical and psychological foundations of developing independent thinking skills in primary school students. In the modern education system, the formation of students’ independent thinking abilities is considered an important pedagogical task. The study scientifically substantiates the characteristics of intellectual development in primary school-aged children, the structural components of independent thinking, and the pedagogical factors that contribute to the development of this skill in the educational process. Furthermore, the article highlights that within the framework of a competency-based approach, independent thinking serves as a key factor in developing students’ critical and creative thinking abilities.