What will I learn about: Learn how taking an "academic selfie" to examine your own assumptions and biases is the crucial first step before teaching critical thinking to your children?

Learn how taking an "academic selfie" to examine your own assumptions and biases is the crucial first step before teaching critical thinking to your children.

What will I learn about: why traditional schooling often rewards conformity over curiosity, and how you can step in to genuinely equip your kids to evaluate claims independently?

Understand why traditional schooling often rewards conformity over curiosity, and how you can step in to genuinely equip your kids to evaluate claims independently.

What will I learn about: the "Says Who?" exercise, a playful storytelling method to help children analyze a narrator's perspective, evaluate trustworthiness, and build empathy for diverse viewpoints?

Discover the "Says Who?" exercise, a playful storytelling method to help children analyze a narrator's perspective, evaluate trustworthiness, and build empathy for diverse viewpoints.

What will I learn about: the framework for teaching kids the crucial differences among facts, interpretations, evidence, perspectives, and beliefs to prevent them from confusing hard reality with hidden bias?

Master the framework for teaching kids the crucial differences among facts, interpretations, evidence, perspectives, and beliefs to prevent them from confusing hard reality with hidden bias.

What will I learn about: how to use insightful reflections, like Toni Morrison's question "What can I do where I am?", to raise children who use their critical minds to positively affect others?

Find out how to use insightful reflections, like Toni Morrison's question "What can I do where I am?", to raise children who use their critical minds to positively affect others.

Raising Critical Thinkers

A Parent's Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age

Julie Bogart

★ 4.3 / 5(100 ratings)

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Categories:

Technology & the Future Parenting Education

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Did you know that the key to protecting your child from misinformation isn't necessarily limiting their screen time, but fundamentally changing how they process the information they find?
💡Have you ever wondered why some children easily fall into the trap of 'echo chambers' and what simple shifts in your parenting can help them break free?
💡What if you could use science-backed exercises to transform everyday family conversations into powerful tools for building both a sharp, discerning mind and an empathetic heart?

Listen to Raising Critical Thinkers — Free Audiobook

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Key Takeaways from Raising Critical Thinkers

✓Learn how taking an "academic selfie" to examine your own assumptions and biases is the crucial first step before teaching critical thinking to your children.
✓Understand why traditional schooling often rewards conformity over curiosity, and how you can step in to genuinely equip your kids to evaluate claims independently.
✓Discover the "Says Who?" exercise, a playful storytelling method to help children analyze a narrator's perspective, evaluate trustworthiness, and build empathy for diverse viewpoints.
✓Master the framework for teaching kids the crucial differences among facts, interpretations, evidence, perspectives, and beliefs to prevent them from confusing hard reality with hidden bias.
✓Find out how to use insightful reflections, like Toni Morrison's question "What can I do where I am?", to raise children who use their critical minds to positively affect others.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Raising Critical Thinkers

Mind Map

Raising Critical Thinkers

Questioning Yourself+

Questioning the Speaker+

Sifting Fact from Fiction+

Cultivating Empathy & Motivation+

Active Learning+

Considering Opposing Views+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7

According to the text, what is a common limitation of traditional schooling when it comes to developing critical thinkers?

A. It relies too heavily on modern technology instead of classic texts.
B. It often rewards conformity and the memorization of facts over genuine insight.
C. It forces students to question their own core beliefs too early in life.
D. It focuses exclusively on emotional intelligence rather than academic rigor.

Question 2 of 7

What is the primary purpose of the 'Says Who?' exercise described in the book?

A. To help children memorize the key facts of a historical event.
B. To teach children how to correctly use grammar and syntax in storytelling.
C. To prompt children to recognize a storyteller's perspective and potential biases.
D. To encourage children to read aloud with greater confidence and expression.

Question 3 of 7

How does the book distinguish between a 'fact' and an 'interpretation'?

A. Facts are based on personal experiences, while interpretations are based on hard data.
B. Facts explain the significance of an event, while interpretations are irreducible pieces of information.
C. Facts are irreducible, verifiable pieces of information, while interpretations explain the significance of those facts.
D. Facts can easily be changed by new beliefs, while interpretations remain constant over time.

Question 4 of 7

According to the text, what usually happens when a person's long-held beliefs conflict with new evidence?

A. The person immediately updates their beliefs to align with the new evidence.
B. The beliefs usually prevail, often requiring formative new experiences to be dislodged.
C. The person completely discards both their beliefs and the new evidence out of frustration.
D. The evidence is automatically validated by the person's hidden biases.

Question 5 of 7

What is the author's stance on children playing video games?

A. They should be strictly avoided because they hinder emotional regulation and empathy.
B. They are useful for keeping children entertained but offer no real educational value.
C. They should only be allowed if they are explicitly marketed as educational games.
D. They can positively impact creativity, emotional regulation, and concentration when played in moderation.

Question 6 of 7

Which of the following is an example of the 'break the rules' exercise recommended to foster critical thinking?

A. Letting children skip their homework to play outside in nature.
B. Rewriting a familiar story by flipping the roles of the hero and the villain.
C. Allowing children to choose their own bedtime to teach them natural consequences.
D. Refusing to read standard textbooks and only using primary historical documents.

Question 7 of 7

Why does the author suggest having children read negative reviews of their favorite movies?

A. To prove that their personal taste in movies is subjective and potentially flawed.
B. To help them monitor their emotional defensiveness and practice understanding dissenting perspectives.
C. To teach them how to write persuasive essays by analyzing professional critics' arguments.
D. To encourage them to consume a wider variety of media and genres.

Raising Critical Thinkers — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2Challenging yourself
3Challenging the speaker
4Sorting fact from fiction
5Gaming your path to empathy
6Reading, experiencing, and exploring
7Considering opposing viewpoints

Raising Critical Thinkers Summary & Overview

Raising Critical Thinkers (2022) is a guide for parents who want their children to make up their own minds amid today’s flood of information. Personal stories and science-backed exercises offer practical wisdom with which families can nurture thoughtful minds and empathetic hearts.

Who Should Listen to Raising Critical Thinkers?

Parents seeking to nurture curious, discerning children who process information thoughtfully
Homeschooling parents looking for exercises to foster critical thinking
Teachers hoping to encourage perspective and insight in students

About the Author: Julie Bogart

Julie Bogart is an author, writing coach, and homeschooling expert. Her book The Brave Learner has delighted home educators around the world. Bogart has also created the award-winning online writing program Brave Writer, serving over 191 countries. An experienced teacher and mother of five globe-trotting adult children, Bogart continues to share her insightful parenting and education advice through her coaching community, podcast, and writing.

Raising Critical Thinkers

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to Raising Critical Thinkers — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from Raising Critical Thinkers

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Raising Critical Thinkers — Full Chapter Overview

Raising Critical Thinkers Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to Raising Critical Thinkers?

About the Author: Julie Bogart

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