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Just how far should a parent go with regard to a child growing up to be cynical? Should children be taught that everything they hear from the adult world is the truth? How can they be raised to have a measure of respect for authority, but at the same time not be rubes for every con that comes down the pike?
One thought I had was to encourage a child to keep a notebook of "lies" -- every time they hear something that they doubt the truth or authority of, write it down in their notebook. Then, when they have time, research the subject (online, or however), and see if there is a different take on it, if not disprove it as an outright lie. Downside: When you tell them something, and then see them running off to get their notebook. So, should a parent foster a certain gullibility in children, just to protect your own power and authority, and how does this play out in later life?
Just how far should a parent go with regard to a child growing up to be cynical? Should children be taught that everything they hear from the adult world is the truth? How can they be raised to have a measure of respect for authority, but at the same time not be rubes for every con that comes down the pike?
One thought I had was to encourage a child to keep a notebook of "lies" -- every time they hear something that they doubt the truth or authority of, write it down in their notebook. Then, when they have time, research the subject (online, or however), and see if there is a different take on it, if not disprove it as an outright lie. Downside: When you tell them something, and then see them running off to get their notebook. So, should a parent foster a certain gullibility in children, just to protect your own power and authority, and how does this play out in later life?
"Notebook of lies" sounds like a great title for an infamous manifesto to be published after incarceration.
I know what you're getting at. But I think you should think it through a little more.
Are you sure you want to raise a CYNICAL child???? Can't they just be questioning and curious?
How about inquisitive and interested??? Open minded? A critical thinker?
I feel like my kids are like this. They don't fall for every little thing that crosses their path. One thing we did was ask their opinion - A LOT - about stuff that was happening in the world and in their worlds. I also think that parents who raise their kids from a place of fear raise anxious, naive kids. If you keep an open, interested attitude and engage your kids on what many would think are non-kid issues, they will pick it up.
Agree that you don't want to raise your child to be cynical so much as to raise them not to take everything without question. There are negatives to cynicism.
I'd change the title of your "Notebook of Lies" to something like "Notebook of Questions", "Notebook of Doubts", or even "Research Notebook". The notebook is a great idea. But you don't want to encourage your child to believe everything they doubt is automatically a lie before they've even researched it. (But I do love the idea of encouraging kids to research things they doubt.)
Believing everything is a lie can be just as bad as believing everything is true.
Cynical is a negative trait. I don't want my kids to have any of those.
Like Wmsn4life said, questioning, inquisitive and a critical thinker is much better.
I'm teaching my son to question things and find out multiple viewpoints before he makes up his own mind about things. The more sides you look at things from, the closer you get to the truth of the matter.
Cynical is a negative trait. I don't want my kids to have any of those.
Don't turn it into a buzzword. Remember, Pride is also one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and every quality has its dark side..
Children start out very gullible -- also a negative trait. Without some basic training, they will turn out to be gullible adults, and must be taught to neutralize that with a manageable measure of cynicism and the judgment to know when to apply it.
Don't turn it into a buzzword. Remember, Pride is also one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and every quality has its dark side..
Children start out very gullible -- also a negative trait. Without some basic training, they will turn out to be gullible adults, and must be taught to neutralize that with a manageable measure of cynicism and the judgment to know when to apply it.
You can teach a child to not be gullible without turning them bitter and cynical. How sad you think raising a child to be cynical is a goal...because no matter how you look at it....it's a negative trait.
Don't turn it into a buzzword. Remember, Pride is also one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and every quality has its dark side..
Children start out very gullible -- also a negative trait. Without some basic training, they will turn out to be gullible adults, and must be taught to neutralize that with a manageable measure of cynicism and the judgment to know when to apply it.
Eh????
We aren't talking about buzzwords, but connotations, which really matter.
Some would say children start out "innocent," not gullible.
All I can say is that were I to suggest any project involving keeping a notebook to my children, they would run away screaming. We stick to dinner conversation, because they have enough to do already.
Last edited by randomparent; 03-31-2015 at 01:25 PM..
I raise my son to be questioning and to think about whether what he's hearing sounds right and makes sense. He is 10 and can watch TV and comment during the commercials about how something might not be an outright lie but has been manipulated to promote a particular product. I wouldn't call that cynical, if you mean something like that.
Maybe if you have some examples of what you are talking about, people might be able to respond a bit more concretely rather than focusing on the word cynical.
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