How To Teach Our Children To Have A Critical Look?
Teaching our children to have a critical look is not a simple matter. In trying, we are faced with a dual task: raising children with their own criteria but who are obedient at the same time. However, the problem is one of form rather than substance.
In practice, parental authority can be a means of liberating learning. In addition, there are techniques that can be implemented to encourage the formation of their own criteria in the smallest of the home. Conversation, debate and everyday experiences will be essential.
Training common sense
Any common space is useful to train your own criteria. “What did you think of the toasts?” or “why did you like that movie?” are good options to start with. The question is an information mobile that nurtures the questioner and also the child consulted.
Each answer can lead to another question. These types of conversations can end in a self-questioning that the child will ask himself. The position of the adult in these analyzes of the child will be that of a kind of guide.
However, this leadership of the father or mother should not be directed to what is expected of the child. Rather, the exercise should be one of exploration, to allow a look at the child’s tastes and comments.
Parents who listen
It is not only about asking and arguing, but knowing how to listen. This can be a problem for some parents who want to impose their discretion. We must remember that this is not a one-way learning, but that the child must have a choice.
Therefore, the right thing to do is listen carefully to the opinions, tastes and evaluations of children. And, if from an expression we are allowed to explore more, it will be even better; then there will be time for some valuation correction.
All this leads us to a third question: to have good judgment and serenity before judging. Parents think that we know everything and that we should always intervene. Sometimes, in the exercise of that power, we forget to stop and analyze things.
Teaching our children to have a critical look is giving freedom
We are all born free, but children have at least two guardians of their freedom: their parents. Parents should consider that they are guides of that free will, not owners of it. Therefore, freedom is the basis for forging the character of the little ones and for them to achieve success in their life.
Since the arrival of the millennial generation , child psychologists have recommended granting freedom quotas to children. It is about a margin of participation, an area of free recreation, spaces to take into account what the little one thinks.
However, parental commitment does not stop there; These spaces must be expanded with the passage of time. There is no one better than a father or mother to know the progress of their little ones. It is almost a mathematical formula: the higher the criteria, the better access to freedom.
There are parents who manipulate their children
Authority and obedience should not be synonymous with manipulation. Faced with an extreme situation, scolding, punishment and other psychological conditioning come. But being parents does not mean pretending that our children think exactly the same as we do.
There are many parents who incur manipulation and fear to teach their children. This type of practice is very common, for example, in the middle of divorces, separations or joint custody. The minor is often used to harm the partner.
In the long run, children grow up and realize many things. In addition, teaching our children to have a critical look implies respecting their freedom. With this, a correct development of the person who is in the process of growth is obtained.
Allowing failure
Error is learning and that also applies to children at home; common sense is forged in trying, failing, and relearning. If we do not allow a child to make mistakes with his own way of thinking, then his judgment will not be strengthened.
Screaming and exaggerated phrases will only hurt your little one emotionally. This way you will only get a self-absorbed, quiet and self-censored boy. For this reason, teaching our children to have a critical gaze implies letting them express themselves.
There are situations in which we can allow our children to make decisions : the purchase of a candy, a toy or even some household matter. Doing this experiment will teach us how good observers children are and how we can foster that critical spirit that is so important in them.
