How do you try n teach your children how to think, not what to think ?

[LovelyYellowLabrador]

Ask their opinions ?
about current affairs or events

any other ideas

I do agree, but when I have had children of mine presenting that the moon landings didn't happen, or even 9/11, it is important to not just ridicule and be emotional. When I say 'tolerate' I mean, have some empathy as to why they have got to this viewpoint (mainly that they have come across some convincing charlatan on the internet) and be able to have an adult conversation and present some different points with the aim of them re-evaluating their position. One thing I think is really important is role modelling the ability to change your view when new information comes to light. That is definitely a hard thing to do and most people struggle with this period. But if you can, it opens up your free critical thinking skills massively.

I also don't mean that I humour them in believing the moon landings are real. I mean tolerating the fact they could have 'reasonably' come to a different conclusion given their maturity and the 'facts' they have thus far been presented with.

In saying all of that, I definitely don't aim to convince them of what I believe in. We can have differing view about politics, religion, woke-y stuff, that is all part of the fun.

Adults admitting when they are wrong helps too. My mum was talking last week, I can’t remember what she said but DS very politely said “Nan we don’t use that word anymore” and she listened, they discussed how language had changed and she thanked him for pointing it out and said she would change her language in future.

Some ideas...

Paradoxes, or apparent paradoxes, are a fun way to teach reasoning, and that even some simple and clear problems have no solution.
e.g. Liar paradox ("This sentence is false."), Ship of Theseus ("trigger's broom"), "You can't step into the same river twice" ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_paradoxes

Recognising fallacies: "straw man", "ad hominem", "false dichotomy"...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies

Listing pros and cons.
Understanding views you don't agree with: taking turns debating from different positions on the same question.

Introduction to philosophy: Sophie's World

Introduction to logic: Venn diagrams, and, or, if-then-else, syllogisms

By explaining bias.
Pointing out any bias where you hear and see it.
No matter how subtle or sly.
As they get older show how we view our culture and life through particular glasses set centuries ago.

Get them to question and challenge everything even if you don't like what they conclude.

Let them simply be...don't try and brain wash them.

Talk to them, ask questions, why do they think that, acknowledge their thought processes.

We go to church. DS1 announced at 9 that he's an atheist. At 11, he's still a bit young to leave at home while we go and he's lugged along. I don't need him to believe, but I do point out that it's a form of culture and understanding foundations of British society, and he will encounter Christian ceremony through life. I listen to his thoughts on science and creation and acknowledge that there's a lot of sense there (my beliefs are not absolute and literal) and we respect our different beliefs.

TV is no bad thing in itself. My DCs are dyslexic so reading is not easy and relaxing to them. DS1 has a lot of niche interests and gets a lot out of youtube. This brings up discussion about reliability, bias and algorithms. I favour them watching youtube on the main TV as it keeps me aware of what they watch and their interests, and also promotes discussion.

I agree, it can be used as a good starting point. But in most households that won't happen, because the parents are already totally brainwashed themselves. Climate alarmism is probably the most egregious example of this. None of the counter arguments are even debated anymore. Everything is swept under the carpet, using language such as 'The science is settled'. Of course that's not how science actually works, so what they really mean is 'The politics is settled, and the science has been made to fit the politics'.

Ask them questions rather than try to tell them the answers.

@YorkshireDude, why not just start a thread?

There's a time and a place for everything.