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#ParentLifeUnscRxipted: Teach your kids how to call BS (bogus story)

Over the course of the past few years, a portion of our society has lost touch with reality. Somewhere along the line, “alternative facts” became acceptable, and the truth less valuable.

Politicians have fabricated stories and social media platforms have circulated them. A lot of folks are more interested in going viral than they are in telling the truth. Whatever is click-worthy typically dominates our airways, and whatever can “break the internet” is always the hottest topic. We accept untruths so much as a society that the lines are blurred and some people can no longer distinguish fact from fiction. Someone can literally be recorded doing or saying one thing, yet, they will tell you later that they did or said something else. The more outlandish a headline, the more people tend to tune in.

So, as parents, how can we help our children see through the smoke? When gaslighting is at an all-time high and people choose to ignore the truth if it’s not in their best interest, what can we do to instill a discerning spirit into our kids? We can help our children to distinguish between fact and fiction by encouraging them to ask questions, think critically and rely on their faith.

One technique I teach my kids to use is questioning. I am constantly telling them that just because someone says something, doesn’t make it true. If you want to uncover the truth, start asking questions. One of the most important questions to ask is: who is telling you the information? And is this person a credible source of information? The reality is, folks say all types of things, and the message conveyed is largely based on the perspective of the messenger.

For instance, if you ask one person, he or she may tell you that slavery was necessary. This person may try to convince you that it wasn’t inhumane or that enslaved individuals actually benefited from and were happy to be treated as property. However, descendants of enslaved people will likely tell you about the negative impact of slavery on generations of Black people through the separation of families, physical abuse and genocide. Regardless of the information being shared, asking questions is crucial to finding the truth. We often learn so much more by being inquisitive and digging deeper. Other questions to ask are: who benefits from the storyline being shared, and who may be negatively impacted by the information? Make sure that your kids are not afraid to challenge the status quo by asking questions.

We also encourage our kids to think critically. My husband and I want them to be able to read a room, and identify what pieces of a story make sense and why. Things for them to consider during this process, again, include who is giving the information and whether or not the individual is trustworthy. Also, have they done their own research on a particular matter, or are they taking someone else’s word for it? When they asked follow-up questions, did the information add up or were there loopholes? Are there any varying storylines? If so, based on what you know and what you’ve researched, which statements seem to be more accurate? Can any individuals corroborate the information you have received? If so, are these sources impartial or do they have an agenda of some sort?

Typically, you can tell when information is one-sided if the same person is always right or always the victim. Whenever a person cannot take varying perspectives into account or can only ever see their side of the story, they are more likely to skew information for their own benefit. Additionally, when information is challenged and someone’s immediate reaction is to deflect or disparage the challenger, this is usually an indicator that everything may not be factual. If this is the case, they should do additional research and never take the information at face value.

In order to raise well-versed, socially aware and confident children, we need them to be informed. But we also need to make sure that they can decipher information properly so that they are not led astray. Because of this, we always go back to our family’s foundation — our faith. When everything seems to be going awry, nothing makes sense, and we are not sure which way to turn, we can depend on our ultimate source. As Christ followers, we know better than to cherry-pick scriptures to back up our own arguments or explain away our actions. Jesus gives us a clear example of how we are to love, treat others and live our lives. The litmus test for our family is, “What would Jesus do?” (better known as WWJD).

We tell our boys that if someone is telling you something, but their words and actions are not in line with the Word of God, be skeptical. The Bible speaks of people like this as false prophets (Romans 16:17), and the apostle John advises us about them in 2 John 1:10: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.” When the Holy Spirit lives inside you, you can sense deep down when something is not right. As Christians, we must encourage our children not to ignore this feeling. We must hold ourselves accountable and hold others accountable for truth.

Information, news stories and public opinion are ongoing. It can be hard, at times, to filter out what’s real and what’s not. When it’s all said and done, we can’t control our news feeds. However, we can choose not to indulge in it. Teaching our kids to call BS when they see it empowers them to stand up for what’s right and ensures they do not get lost in an unending cycle of falsities!

Dr. Jade L. Ranger is a pharmacist at The Prescription Shoppe, a full-service pharmacy that she owns with her husband. She is mom to two boys, ages 10 and 6 years old, and the author of “Mustard Seed Mentality,” available at Amazon.com.