How To Think

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Teach Your Children How to Think, Not What to Think.

Page 1 Teach Your Children How To Think, Not What To Think As a parent in the twenty first century, one often feels over protective. Most parents find it difficult to monitor their kids around the clock and are unable to control the nature of the content (movies, books etc.) that their growing children have access to. The question then is: what should parents do to ensure that their children do not go astray? Parents are often heard discussing what to do when the world is filled with all sorts of evil (ranging from explicit content on the web, to drug abuse, pre-marital/teen sex and much more) that can suck a child into darkness just like a black hole sucks in matter.

Getting a child at least one electronic device (a personal computer, laptop, I-pad or mobile phone) is fast becoming an absolute compulsion. Majority of schools now incorporate technology in their curriculum as it facilitates teaching. A child would be much more current and competitive in terms of learning if he has his own electronic equipment(s). Furthermore, almost every kid on the block has such a device and if your child does not have his own computer, then he is likely to grow up feeling disadvantaged or complexed.

Therefore, it comes down to attempting to limit what your child has access to while using his I-pad, laptop etc. .Net nannies are soft-ware that help parents monitor children’s online activities as well as block undesirable age-sensitive content. However the possibility of children being notorious enough to hack a net nanny is not unheard of. This generation is infamous for outsmarting anything that limits them.

A wise parent would understand that preventing the child from learning about any and all evil is actually quite impossible. And if at all a parent somehow manages to keep their children blissfully ignorant, it could actually be very destructive as any stranger may lure your unknowing child towards evil very easily.

Therefore it is best for parents to be the first one to let their children know of evil things themselves, rather than exposing children to the danger of being misguided by others. Furthermore, do not put tabs on your children or keep things from them in an obvious fashion as that only increases curiosity.

Additionally, openly forbidding them is more likely to set them off on the wrong footing because that which is forbidden is most appealing for a child.

Lastly, have open discussions with your offspring, irrespective of their age. Get down to their level and understand how they perceive the world. Teach them “how to think”, not “what to think”. This can be achieved by guiding their thoughts towards the right ideas as opposed to reproaching them for an idea which you find is off track. Always encourage them to express themselves by simply talking to them about their daily activities. This will give you a good idea of what they are thinking as well as gives you an opportunity to guide them how to think.

Reference: http://www.researchomatic.com/Early-Childhood-Childrens-Thinking-Processes-And-EarlyEducation-145466.html

Teach Your Children How to Think, Not What to Think.