Don't Let Your Kids Be Fooled!

The last five years have been tough. We've watched horrified as our kids are bombarded by information that is meant to shock them. To scare them. To make them feel fearful of the future.

And we're shocked.

Many of us have wondered what is going on with our society, and with our kids.

But deep down, we know.

We know our kids are being targeted by social media, the mainstream media, and the education system (and every other organisation) who just want to get our children thinking in ways that is not good for them. 

Thinking that is not good for our children, our families or the community we live in.

Thinking That Makes Us Afraid

These actors want our kids to be afraid. To make them feel frightened about the future. And to even become social activists.

That's not what childhood is for. It is not to tackle the great big problems of the world and act like they know the answer. They can't, they're only little.

Our children are told that the adults around them have failed them. That they (as children) have to stand up and fix things.

This is not what childhood is about. Childhood is about learning who you are, where you come from and what is your role in your family, community and in the wider world.

It is only after we've developed a solid foundation of who we are that we can understand the world around us. This means spending time with our families and members of our community. Reading together and listening to the wisdom that has been laid down over generations.

And in the midst of all of this, learning how to spot the techniques that are used to blindsight us. The techniques that make us think in ways that is not good for us.

These techniques are what we confront every day in our life. When we scroll on instagram (you name the app), watch tv or even when looking at banners along the highway as we're driving, we're bombarded by them.

Tactics Designed to Manipulate Us

To get us thinking in ways that is beneficial to whoever is doing the messaging. Or to throw us off the path that we are on.

These messages are so effective that we don't even realise we're being tricked. We think we can see through the tactics, but most often we can't. Just like a frog in pot of water that is slowly getting warmer, we don't recognise the strategies being used against us because they seem so harmless, but they're not.

Their aim is to get us thinking in ways that is beneficial to the messenger. For example, a company that wants us to buy insurance is going to strike fear in our heart to get us to sign up. Their tactic works. We sign up.

This happens all around us, and not just by insurance companies. The media, corporations and government use these tactics every single day. They urge us to act, jump on the bandwagon because everyone else is doing it.

Sometimes their tactics are necessary, such as in a genuine disaster when we need to act together, but a lot of the time, their tactics are not in our best interests.

What Strategies Do They Use? 

They use appeals to authority to convince us that a course of action is the best choice.

"These scientists said this and that is why everyone should do it!"

They even create false dilemmas where we are presented with only two courses of action, with one being the "good" choice and the other being the obvious "bad" choice you conspiracy theorist!

"You're either with us, or against us!" 

Heard that one before?

It is only when we can identify these manipulation tactics that we can protect our children. To teach them (and ourselves) the skills to spot when we are being persuaded, manipulated or even fooled.

To see when we're being frightened and to stop and ask, what is the messaging here. How am I being encouraged to think and what tactics are being used?

Are they using appeals to emotion to make me afraid? Are they getting me to agree by telling me what I want to hear (Confirmation Bias)?

Are they even using force to get me to comply? (Appeal to Force)

Being able to spot these strategies isn't easy at first but with practice, you can't help but not see them. You and your children will become a lot more difficult to manipulate. You in effect become "hoodwink proof".

What is "Hoodwink Proof"?

You and your children will begin thinking for yourselves. Making your own decisions. And live a life that is more true to yourselves, your family and your community.

If we don't do this, we are lost and very easy to manipulate. (Perhaps that is the intention.)

But not if we're aware of manipulation tactics (the old fashioned term is propaganda techniques). Once we can spot them, we're no longer like blind sheep. Herded this way or that. We are now lions.

To help your children learn these strategies, see our free sample Trick Question Activity Pack. This pack is a part of a series of critical thinking packs (24 in total!). They are designed to teach children (and adults) what the tactics look like and how they can identify them through the funny world of Duchess, Bruno and their gang of friends.