Children should be taught to question authority to build critical thinking skills - expert

CAPE TOWN - An expert says children should be taught to question authority in order to build critical thinking skills in a world of misinformation.

Professor Heidi Matisonn from the University of Cape Town said that encouraging children to ask questions instead of following blindly could equip them to navigate complex information.

"To be clear, I'm not encouraging children to backchat. I'm encouraging them to think critically, which is slightly different. I'm asking them to ask why and to question everything, especially given the access to information and misinformation."

Matisonn said that this skill should be nurtured at home by parents and caregivers.

"The place that children can be encouraged in a nurturing, healthy, safe environment is with their parents and caregivers. It should start there but not end there, as they learn to think critically while being mindful and respectful of their place in the world."