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Click here for my blog post and summary of the core skills
Our teenagers are growing up in a world saturated with information, outrage, and algorithms designed to keep them scrolling. As parents, it can feel overwhelming: How do we help our kids navigate AI, social media, fake news, and online manipulation—without either over-controlling them or throwing up our hands?
In this episode, I talk to Dr Maree Davies, senior lecturer at the University of Auckland and author of Teaching Critical Thinking to Teenagers: How kids can be street smart about AI, algorithms, fake news and social media.
Her work is all about making critical thinking accessible to all teenagers, not just the academically gifted. And crucially, she shows how these skills can actually reduce anxiety by giving teens a sense of control over the flood of information they face every day.
We explore:
What critical thinking really is (beyond the academic buzzword) and why the tween and early teen years (11–15) are such a powerful window for learning it
How cognitive bias, schemas, and teenage brain development affect the way young people react to information—especially on social media
Marie’s Street Smarts model for teaching critical thinking at home and in school, starting from a teen’s own story and perspective
How to talk to teens about algorithms, AI, fake news, and influencers in a way that feels respectful, engaging, and non-preachy
The role of relationships, respect, and status in adolescent life—and how we can use these realities to open up richer conversations
Why modelling our own struggles (with phones, news, time management, etc.) is far more powerful than lecturing
Practical question types and conversation prompts that help teens move from emotional reactions to thoughtful, reasoned views
This is one of my favourite recent conversations and I’d love as many people as possible to hear it. These skills matter because our teenagers are being shaped—every day—by forces they often don’t fully understand. Critical thinking isn’t about turning them into cynics; it’s about giving them tools, language, and confidence to question, to evaluate, and, when necessary, to change their minds.
It’s also about strengthening our own connection with them, so that they feel heard, respected, and equipped to take their place in the world as thoughtful, compassionate adults.
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My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com
My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:
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You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk
Parenting Teenagers Untangled: The award-winning podcast for parents of tweens and teens, offering realistic, science-backed advice for calmer, more connected family life. 