My 11 year old spends 50% of his time with an anti-science and anti-vaccine family. Single parent me (in Ohio) doesn’t have a lot of support when I’ve tried to help fight some of those thoughts he’s been brainwashed with in the name of religion. I’m christian, but his other household is extremists. “You believe in science too much” and “cavemen never existed” are things he’s said in the last year. He’s a straight A very smart child, he’s just been brainwashed and I want to try to help him before it gets worse.
What kinds of shows, books, documentaries can I expose him too to make him think more critically about some of these things so he understands science is real and vaccines work?
He does get into Veritasium on YouTube, so I feel like that’s a step in the right direction for science and critical thinking.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Cheers
Best advice I can offer is to ask questions whenever you hear something objectionable.
Child: “You like science too much.”
You: “Why do you think that?” or “Why do you say that?”
Asking them to explain what they are saying tells you more about what is really going on and can help them to consider why they think that way.
This guy is who I have in mind when talking about this subject. https://youtu.be/9gHmhObfbn4?si=xKaMUCh37q_UOxjo
I agree.
Especially in aparent / child relationship, arguing the points can be futile. You can calmly explain your point of view, but after that it becomes a power struggle.
Asking your kid to examine their beliefs and to treat others with respect is the job as a parent. The indoctrination is likely to backfire.