RE: Teaching Reason (to Children)
July 8, 2013 at 10:31 am
(This post was last modified: July 8, 2013 at 10:35 am by Bad Writer.)
(July 8, 2013 at 10:17 am)Stan Wrote: ...to their eyes, you are their "gods".
My parents waited until i turned up 18 to seriously discuss their atheism with me. You may not want to push it too much as it can backfire in adolescence. Teenage rebellion etc.
Haha, very true. I always figured that I wouldn't just tell my kids, "I'm an atheist, so you need to be too." Besides, I got plenty of indoctrination when I was a kid and knew enough then to know that I didn't like the way my parents went about it, e.g. I would get grounded if I decided to skip out on Church.
hock:Teenage rebellion played a small role in my becoming an Atheist, though I had to serve a Mormon mission first before I could become completely free of my family's traditions. If my daughter or son ever asks, "Daddy, what do you believe?" I'll tell them straight up that I don't believe in any god, and then I'll ask them in return what they believe and see what that results in...my only concern is that they'll take my non-belief as their answer that they shouldn't believe either.
(July 8, 2013 at 10:05 am)thesummerqueen Wrote: Give them books. Give them good kids' magazines on history and science. Encourage and foster a love of reading. Shower them with as many science books and history books as they ask for. Make that the one thing you will give them (e-books or otherwise) without reserve. If you send them to their room when they're bad, take away their toys, but don't take away their books - that's how I would get through groundings. If they're bored, make them read.
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Reading is truly the best gift - it will broaden their minds, expand their vocabulary, help discipline them for school, and teach them great ways to "wait" (in line, at home, etc).
I was already reading full novels when I was in 2nd grade, and it greatly influenced how I looked at the world. I've always figured this to be a surefire route to getting my child to think outside the box, as it worked with me (and obviously with you).
Speaking of broadening vocabulary, this has been a huge stumbling block for my daughter, as my ex doesn't really read to her at home, but instead gives her an iPad to play on all day long. No learning games really: just a bunch of silly apps to help my daughter pass the time and leave mommy alone. I'm more worried about her than I am about any future children I may have with my current wife. I do my best to read to her over Skype, but her attention span is so limited at four, and since her vocabulary is also small, she can't fully express to me everything she wants to say.
