In today’s world, herd mentality runs rampant. Our kids are flooded with the same thoughts over and over from different sources, and it can be difficult for them to form their opinions if they haven’t been taught to do so. As parents, it’s our job to cultivate independent, critical thinking in our kids, and it’s not that hard. In fact, you may even find it to be fun! Here are some tips to help you figure out how to raise independent thinkers. Books like Tuttle Twins for kids are an excellent place to start!

PHOTO: Tuttle Twins

Books to Help as You Discover How to Raise Independent Thinkers

Spotting books that will teach independent thinking can be difficult if you haven’t given this much thought, but once you know what to look for, it’s easy to identify appropriate titles! Books that teach critical thinking and how to think independently typically teach kids to question assumptions — both their own and others. They challenge existing beliefs.

These books also show kids how to consider a variety of different perspectives when it comes to problem-solving, helping them form their own conclusions instead of just passively accepting the information they’re given. Books that teach critical thinking also present complex ideas with conflicting views rather than just simple answers. Readers will be forced to deal with the nuances around various issues and see arguments from all angles and perspectives.

Books that teach critical thinking also encourage kids to analyze the information they’re given, considering the possibility that reasoning could be faulty or that invisible forces are shaping their views and decisions. Books about cognitive biases are perfect for this!

These titles also encourage curiosity and ask a lot of “why” questions to explore the reasons behind different decisions or events. When they’re reading these books, kids shouldn’t accept everything at face value.

PHOTO: Tuttle Twins

Where to Look for Books That Teach Critical Thinking

The Tuttle Twins books are perfect for parents wanting to figure out how to raise independent thinkers! The Tuttle Twins series contains many books that teach critical thinking through fiction for kids, guidebooks for teens, and even a history curriculum that explains why things happened the way they did and encourages kids to consider potential alternatives that could have brought about better results for all.

Some must-have Tuttle Twins books for every parent wanting to teach their kids to think independently include:

• The Tuttle Twins and the Food Truck Fiasco
• The Tuttle Twins and the Road to Surfdom
• The Tuttle Twins and the Education Vacation
• The Tuttle Twins and the Fate of the Future
• The Tuttle Twins’ Guide to the World’s Worst Ideas
• The Tuttle Twins’ Guide to Beware Your Bias
• The Tuttle Twins’ Guide to Logical Fallacies
• The America’s History curriculum

For parents who want to double-down on their kids’ education, the fiction titles on this list also have activity workbooks to further the fun and educational value of these books.

In addition to reading the Tuttle Twins books and doing the workbooks, you can also use them as a jumping-off point to drive discussions that sharpen your kids’ ability to think critically and independently even more!