The content of the article is aimed to present the definitions of critical thinking, outline its structure and functions, and also offer recommendations on the development of critical thinking in primary school students. The relevance of this article is caused by the need to step further from dogmatic to critical thinking, that is educating a person who thinks, analyzes, knows how to solve existing problems, gives original answers, questions the incoming information, including his own conclusions. Critical thinking is generally characterized by the principle of being open to new phenomena, even unlikely ones, but without wasting resources on the impossible and unprovable aspects, as well as the ability to use self-reflection and skeptical approach towards established stereotypical delusions. The development of critical thinking is one of the steps for younger students on the way to awareness and competence in the future.