Fact, Fiction, and Family: How ‘Raising Critical Thinkers’ Helps Kids Navigate Today’s Information Jungle

Our kids are growing up in a world where information is everywhere—and so is misinformation. How can we help them tell what’s true, what’s spin, and what’s just plain made up? ‘Raising Critical Thinkers’ offers families a toolkit for the digital age, full of practical activities and real-life examples.

The ‘fact strainer’ exercise is a game-changer: gather a few news stories on the same topic, and highlight only the irreducible facts. What’s left after the opinions and interpretations are stripped away? This simple activity builds a habit of discernment that will last a lifetime.

The book doesn’t stop at facts. It teaches kids (and parents) to spot bias, question beliefs, and recognize narrative framing—skills that make them less likely to fall for viral hoaxes or manipulative arguments. But it also warns against cynicism: the goal isn’t to distrust everything, but to become thoughtful, open-minded learners who can hold facts and beliefs in healthy tension.

With these tools, families can turn every news story, movie, or social media post into a learning opportunity. ‘Raising Critical Thinkers’ proves that media literacy is not just a school subject—it’s the foundation of strong, resilient families. 1 3