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Description
Your child researches a real issue, prepares arguments and responses to the other side, and debates it with you in a friendly, structured way. A lively way to practise reasoning and backing up a point.
What to prep
- issue
- paper_and_pen
- device
- timer
Play guide
- 1Together, pick an issue with two arguable sides that your child cares about.
- 2Decide who argues which side, including having your child sometimes take the side they do not personally hold.
- 3Give both of you time to jot down two or three main arguments and to guess what the other side will say.
- 4Run the debate in short turns - opening points, then a chance to respond to each other, then a closing.
- 5Afterwards, step out of the roles and talk about the strongest point on each side, with no winner needed.
Success signals
Your child prepares more than one argument rather than a single opinion. They respond to a point you made rather than only repeating their own. They can name a strong point from the other side when you review it
If it's tricky
Your child gets heated: Pause and remind both of you that this is a game of ideas, then use short timed turns to keep it calm. They run out of arguments: Help them ask why someone would agree and why someone would disagree. The topic is too broad: Narrow it to one specific question