False information causes real fear. How to not go crazy from all the news?

It’s worth talking to your child about how to know if the information is true or not. (Eric Mclean)

Children don’t have many experiences that allow them to critically approach what they hear or see. Therefore, they are more susceptible to manipulation and its emotional consequences.

How to not be victims of false information?  

Every day we are flooded with information, including a lot of fake news and various untested theories. It causes uncertainty and fear, which is a really explosive mix, pushing us to seek answers to questions that bother us at all costs. Now think about how your child might feel about this. They take everything in at face value, they don’t know how to filter information. In this short text, a psychotherapist explains why it’s worth bringing up the subject of critical thinking. Make use of joint activities proposed therein, too!  

How to recognise fake news? 

Surely, you’ve come across fake news in the last few weeks. Talk to the child and explain how you knew that some of the news wasn’t true and which you weren't sure about. Why don’t you try to track down some fake news together? This could be quite a detective adventure for your family! You might find this infographic helpful

 

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Summary

 Who can we get our knowledge from?  

You can discuss the topic of good and questionable sources of information even with your youngest children. 

Talk to your child about who you can learn something from. Who usually gives you advice? What do adults warn of? Emphasise that older people (parents, grandparents, teachers, older siblings) have more life experience and can advise us or protect us from danger.

All source materials are prepared by the team of Kulczyk Foundation’s Education Department in cooperation with teachers and experts – pedagogists, psychologists and cultural experts – and verified by an experienced family therapist Kamila Becker. Kinga Kuszak, PhD, Professor of Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Educational Studies, provides content-related supervision over Kulczyk Foundation’s educational materials. All materials are covered by the content patronage of the Faculty of Educational Studies of Adam Mickiewicz University.

The article was published on 14.04.2020 on the website of Instytut Dobrego Życia (Good Life Institute)

Authors: Dorota Szkodzińska (Kulczyk Foundation) and Anna Woźniak (Instytut Dobrego Życia)