Founding families get a free diagnostic assessment. Join the waitlist →

Coming soon to OttawaFrançais

FRJoin the waitlist
In a small paper library on an island, a mother reads a slim guide in an armchair under a warm lamp while her son stands on a step stool to take a book from the shelf.

Insight · Thinking and debate · 5 min read

Why every child should learn to argue the other side

Making the best case for a view you don’t hold is one of the most useful habits a child can build, at any age.

Theme · Thinking and the classics

StatusIn preparation · the full piece will follow our opening

Understanding before disagreeing

It’s easy to reject a view you haven’t understood. Arguing the other side asks a child to see why someone might reasonably believe it. Disagreement after that is more thoughtful, and more convincing.

It strengthens their own view

Children who have tested their opinions against the best opposing arguments hold them for better reasons, and can explain them more clearly.

Understand a view before rejecting it.

The short version

At every age

Younger children can practise with simple questions: should pets be allowed at school? Older learners can take on harder ones from history, science or the news. The habit is the same: listen, make the best case for the other view, then respond.

What you’ll take away

  1. 01Understand a view before rejecting it.
  2. 02Testing an opinion makes it stronger.
  3. 03Start simple and build up.

Keep reading

All research and insights

Every child deserves to be known. Let’s start with yours.

Come and meet us. Founding families get a free diagnostic assessment that shows exactly where your child is, before you decide anything.

Join the founding familiesBook a call