Critical thinking allows us to form our own independent opinion on a given topic. The problem is that expressing and defending it (and changing it...) often requires maturity and courage. Even we, adults, have problems with this and can let go out of fear that, for example, we’ll lose our job. What are young people afraid of? For them, acceptance from their peers is extremely important. They’re afraid that if they say what they really think, they’ll be rejected or ridiculed. This is why they try to adapt to the opinion of the majority or not reveal their own. This starts happening very early in childhood, which is why it’s so important to set an example for children from an early age. Let’s teach children how important it is to be yourself and to have the right to individuality.
“Not good”? How about “I don’t like it”?
“I don’t like this, I don’t like that.” Expressing your own opinion comes quite easily and naturally for small children. Two-year-olds protest when we dress them in a blouse they don’t like. They say with great openness that they’re not going to eat something. Over time, they learn that sometimes it’s better to leave something unsaid, for example, not to hurt someone. This is how the process of self-censorship begins. How about, instead of teaching the child that it’s better to keep their opinions to themselves, you show them how to say something without offending others? After all, for some people sour rye soup may be the most delicious meal in the world, while others couldn’t bear tasting it again.
Try to replace sentences that are judgemental, with sentences that express your subjective opinion and consider the fact that someone may have a different view on a given subject:
1. Nice shirt – I like it...
2. Ugly colour – I don’t like it...
3. Delicious – I like it.
4. Awful, tasteless, bleh – I don’t like it.
5. Boring – I wasn’t interested.
Come up with your own examples too.
My opinion
Ask your child if they have ever experienced a situation in which, e.g. out of fear of rejection, they haven’t expressed their own opinion, but blindly followed the group or a specific person. How did they feel? Would they do the same thing now? Do they see any solution to this situation?