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Raising Critical Thinkers in the Age of AI: Tips and Strategies for Parents

Raising Critical Thinkers in the Age of AI: Tips and Strategies for Parents

Author: Lianne Castelino March 28, 2026 Duration: 34:49
Where Parents Talk: Evidence-based Expert Advice on Raising Kids Today
KidsKids & FamilyEducationFamilyHow ToParenting

In today’s fast-moving digital world, parents face an urgent challenge: how to raise children who can think critically, question information, and navigate the growing influence of AI and social media.

In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks with John Krotec—educator, entrepreneur, U.S. Army veteran, and founder of Neo Masculinity Solutions—about why teaching kids how to think is more important than ever.

Drawing from personal experience, leadership training, and his work developing AI-integrated learning tools, Krotec shares actionable insights for parents, including:

  1. Why today’s information overload makes critical thinking a must-have life skill
  2. How to help kids distinguish fact from misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content
  3. The role of curiosity, courage, and questioning in raising independent thinkers
  4. Practical ways parents can guide children to use AI as a tool—not a shortcut
  5. Early warning signs your child may be passively consuming information
  6. Three simple habits parents can adopt to raise resilient, thoughtful kids

This conversation offers into why parenting in the digital age isn’t just about protection—it’s about preparation.

Links referenced in this episode:

  1. neomasculinity.solutions

Companies mentioned in this episode:

  1. Neo Masculinity Solutions

This podcast is for parents, guardians, teachers and caregivers to learn proven strategies and trusted tips on raising kids, teens and young adults based on science, evidenced and lived experience.

You’ll learn the latest on topics like managing bullying, consent, fostering healthy relationships, and the interconnectedness of mental, emotional and physical health.

Links referenced in this episode:

  1. whereparentstalk.com


Raising children in this era comes with a unique set of questions, and Where Parents Talk: Evidence-based Expert Advice on Raising Kids Today is here to offer clarity, not just opinions. Hosted by award-winning journalist and mother Lianne Castelino, this weekly conversation moves beyond anecdotal advice to explore the science and research behind modern parenting. Each episode feels like a thoughtful discussion with a knowledgeable friend, one who brings in leading experts and thinkers to tackle the real issues families face. You’ll hear practical strategies for navigating everything from the emotional turbulence of adolescence to building a foundation of healthy communication from a young age. The focus is on holistic development-addressing the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of both kids and their parents. Lianne’s skill as an interviewer helps distill complex topics into actionable insights, making this podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to ground their parenting choices in evidence and shared experience. It’s a space where the noise of conflicting advice fades, replaced by informed conversations that empower you to find your own path through the joys and challenges of family life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Where Parents Talk: Evidence-based Expert Advice on Raising Kids Today
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