Defense Against the Dark Arts

Remember the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry Potter?

The premise being that the young witches and wizards of Hogwarts would need to know how to defend themselves against...well...evil. Right?

I think J.K. Rowling was on to something.

Ever notice how there are some subjects we shelter our children from? We don't teach our children about social media. We don't teach them how manipulation works. We don't teach them how internet scams work.

Maybe it comes from a place of trying to keep them safe. But in so doing, are we in fact making them less safe?

Here's an example to challenge your mind today.

Why don't we teach our children how manipulation works? About the mechanics of persuasion and subtle trickery to get what one wants?

Now, before you close this post, hear me out...

Why don't we teach our children how manipulation works, not so they can use it for their own gain. But simply so they can understand how it works.

Because there is no question, there are master manipulators in the world.

Some who will steal your identity. Some who will trick you into thousands of dollars of debt for a lemon investment. Some who will run for office and amass a huge following.

But imagine a world where everyone knows how manipulation works. Where everyone was taught how to recognize it and how to defend against it.

The manipulators would be powerless. What a world that would be.

When we shelter our children from what they really need to learn to survive and thrive, we do them a disservice.

So, let's get started with teaching the uncomfortable for the greater good. While they are here with us to guide them.

How social media works, so they don't get addicted or scammed.

How debt works, so they can build wealth and prosper...and resist payday lenders.

How the mind works, so they can take care of it and protect it against a noisy, negative world.

When children learn these things, they can grow into the adults we hope they become.

So let's get started. There's no time to lose.