Parents shape their children's scientific thinking - this is how it succeeds!

Parents shape their children's scientific thinking - this is how it succeeds!

A groundbreaking study by the University of Vechta shows that how parents treat their children has an enormous impact on their scientific thinking! Developmental psychologist Christopher Osterhaus reveals that children begin to think scientifically at the age of six - and that depends heavily on how their parents convey knowledge.

The research results are amazing! Osterhaus and his team accompanied six to ten-year-olds across their entire primary school and discovered significant differences in scientific thinking, which were directly linked to the beliefs of the parents. Parents who believe that knowledge is changeable promote their children better understanding of scientific concepts. In contrast, children of parents with absolutist views often remain restricted in their thinking.

The three conviction systems of the parents

Osterhaus categorized the parents' beliefs in three systems: firstly, the absolutist persuasion system, in which knowledge is considered festival and unchangeable. Second, the multiplistic persuasion system, where every opinion is equivalent. And thirdly, the evaluativist persuasive system, which sees knowledge as temporary, which can develop with new knowledge. Children whose parents act as evaluativists are not only better in scientific thinking, but also in experimentation!

In order to raise their children to intelligent, critical thinkers, parents should always emphasize the changeability of knowledge. Osterhaus warns: In schools, knowledge is often sold as an irrefutable truth. Parents should encourage their children, ask questions and ask hypotheses. A simple example: At the breakfast table you could ask whether cocoa dissolves better in warm or cold milk and how to find out. Such everyday occasions are worth gold to encourage children to think critical!