Antidote to manipulation: critical thinking in childhood

Nowadays, we are immersed in an environment of constant stimuli and information, where children receive all kinds of messages through multiple channels: social media, television, video games, conversations, books, etc. This continuous exposure is not always accompanied by clear criteria to discern what is true, useful, or ethically valuable. In the midst of this incessant flow, the child’s mind needs tools to filter, understand, and make sense of what it receives. Therefore, educating to think becomes essential—educating to protect them from manipulation, dogmatism, and blind obedience.

We understand critical thinking as the ability to analyze and evaluate information, detect contradictions, prioritize ideas, and structure one’s own thinking in a coherent way. Far from being an abstract skill or one reserved for academic settings, it is a fundamental life competence.

Critical thinking allows children to form their own judgments, solve problems autonomously, correct mistakes, and develop a reflective outlook on themselves and the world around them. At the same time, it fosters creativity, adaptability, self-awareness, and personal autonomy.

This type of thinking does not appear suddenly, nor is it exclusive to higher educational stages. From a very young age, children already exercise it implicitly, even if we don’t call it that. Just observe how, at the age of three or four, they begin to ask incessantly: “Why?”, “What if...?”, “Is that true?”, “Who said that?”. These questions, which often test the patience of adults, are not mere curiosities. They are the foundation of a mind under construction, beginning to question, to contrast what it hears, to search for meaning and to build its own understanding of the world.

Behind every “why?” there is a spontaneous exercise of critical thinking. The child does not accept an idea just because an adult says so: they need to understand it, check its coherence with what they already know or have experienced. This process is natural and part of cognitive development, but it is also an educational opportunity that is often wasted.

When we respond to their questions hastily, evasively (“because I said so”, “just because”), or simply ignore them, we are not only missing the chance to support their learning: we are also sending the message that asking questions is wrong or annoying. Thus, little by little, this implicit critical thinking can begin to fade, replaced by passive acceptance or conformity. That is why it is so important to recognize and value these early manifestations.

Here, the role of the school is crucial. Beyond curricular content, school should be a space where curiosity is cultivated, reasoned questioning is encouraged, and doubt is legitimized as a driver of learning.

Fostering this kind of education is essential for holistic development. Below are some key strategies to achieve it:

Create a safe and respectful environment

It is essential that children feel free to express their ideas without fear of judgment. Listening to and valuing their contributions strengthens their confidence and motivates them to think independently.

Use open-ended questions

Questions like “What do you think could happen if...?” or “What solution would you propose for this problem?” encourage reflection and the development of language, empathy, and self-exploration.

Encourage dialogue and debate

Conversations about real and relevant topics teach children to respect others’ opinions and to argue respectfully, which enriches their ability to make informed decisions.

Provide objective and varied information

It is essential for children to learn to assess the reliability of sources and to contrast different viewpoints to develop a critical and reflective perspective.

Stories as a pedagogical tool

Stories stimulate critical thinking by inviting children to question the actions of characters and reflect on decisions and their consequences.

Model critical thinking

Adults should be examples of critical thinking, demonstrating how to analyze situations and make well-founded decisions, teaching children to apply this skill in their daily lives.

In this regard, the OECD, in its report "Fostering Students' Creativity and Critical Thinking", states that creativity and critical thinking are vital skills for globalized and digitalized economies and societies. These competencies are not only essential for solving complex problems, but also enable individuals to adapt to rapid technological changes and the diversity of challenges in today’s world. The organization highlights that, as work and social environments evolve, it is crucial for education systems to promote the development of these skills to prepare students to face an uncertain and dynamic future.

The school has the opportunity to nurture the seed of critical thinking that already exists in childhood. It is not just about transmitting knowledge, but about activating minds, giving continuity to the natural impulse to question, explore, and understand. Only in this way can we give true meaning to the competence of "learning to learn," transforming it into an active attitude of constant reflection: “learning to think in order to learn.”