History is full of important speeches from various people. What makes some of them really change the world? How did they affect people to the point of taking action? Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech contributed to the complete abolition of racial segregation. The words of Emmeline Pankhurst: “The argument of the broken pane of glass is the most valuable argument in modern politics” urged suffragettes to break the windows of politicians who were against giving women the right to vote. Where would we be if it wasn’t for them? So, let’s think about what might help us make our case.
Look for arguments
Finding and presenting the right arguments is a real art that can take a lot of effort. It’s necessary to dig into the topic and think about all the pros and cons. It’s worth developing this skill and you can use our exercise to do this.
Refer to the behaviour or preferences of the child who doesn’t take care of themselves. Ask them: if they met someone who, for example, wants candy for breakfast, lunch and dinner, what arguments could they use to encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle? To make it easier for you to start this conversation, you can draw inspiration from the story of eight-year-old Arief from the Indonesian island of Sumba, the hero of our scenario for classes in self-care. Read his letter with your child!
How to convince others
Why else is it worth learning about debating mechanisms? Knowing them not only increases the chance of achieving our goal, but also reduces our susceptibility to manipulation. So, how do we create effective arguments and find them in the statements of others? This can be a valuable lesson for young minds that are still developing and for you, a reminder of the skills you need. We encourage you to take a look at materials regarding rhetoric for helpful tips.
So, what if you’re right?
Sometimes, even the arguments we consider flawless fail to convince others. We wonder why a logical explanation doesn’t change someone’s opinion. Where does this resistance come from?
Well, our beliefs are not entirely rational. They are created by our experiences and emotions. Beliefs are not only our opinions and values, but also our vision of the world and ourselves. They are what we live by. So, we fight for them and we demand respect for them. Therefore, it’s not easy to change them without questioning our opinions of ourselves. No wonder we can defend them fiercely. Well, it’s not difficult to start an argument, which often, especially for small children, can seem like the end of the world. That is why it’s worth raising this issue and trying to defuse these concerns.
Ask your child to remember their last quarrel. Who did they argue with? What about? Was it possible to reconcile and how did it all start? Talk about how they feel when they are arguing with someone and can’t reach an agreement for a long time. Then, ask how they felt when they made up with who they argued with. Share your own experiences with your child. Note that we sometimes argue about little things, but that doesn’t necessarily mean, for example, the end of a friendship. The most important thing is that each of us should be willing to reconcile.