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
A good bet is alternative media, things like kurzgesagt, verisitium or other science outreach programs.
The other thing is education, engage with his education, and teach him yourself to think critically.
And I hate to say it to say it, but religion conditions kids to brainwashing. Even if not extremists.
Feel comfortable pointing out flaws in Christianity and question them with him.
And lastly, try not to be argumentitive. You need to carefully tease him out of these beliefs, not destroy them.
That would feel like you are attacking him and will probably be counterproductive.
I would like to emphasize that not being argumentative also means not being angry. I think rational explanations cool-ly explained are heard far better than emotion laden diatribe.
Be the calm, cool voice of reason. Let the other side rage against the world.