A young information detective

Not every convincing claim is true

Your child shows you a video claiming there’s a simple trick that always guarantees excellent grades. Instead of mocking it, you could start by asking: “Who says this, and how do they know?” The goal isn’t to teach children to distrust everything, but to help them tell the difference between strong and weak evidence.

Try this simple approach: claim – source – evidence – alternative. First, state the claim clearly together. Then find out who published it and whether they have a reason to sell something or get attention. Look for what’s actually supported by evidence. Finally, ask what other explanation might be possible.

Explain the difference between one person’s experience and a rule that applies to everyone. Just because something worked for a classmate doesn’t mean it will always have the same result. When checking, compare several relevant sources and check when the information was published.

Don’t turn critical thinking into a constant argument. If your child changes their mind after finding new information, that isn’t a defeat. Praise them for being willing to revise their conclusion. With sensitive topics, make room for questions and uncertainty, too.

Try it out: Choose one harmless claim from the internet together. Ask the four questions above, then reach a conclusion: “What do we know, what are we only assuming, and what do we still need to check?”