No one wants their child to be gullible. Yet parents and teachers unconsciously do things that encourage it. Webster defines gullible as “easily deceived or cheated, naive.”

What makes a child gullible? A tendency to go along with what someone is telling you without thinking for one’s self. Not trusting one’s self.

Psychologist Stephen Greenspan,  author of Annals of Gullibility: Why We Get Duped and How to Avoid It,  recently appeared on NPR’s Science Friday to talk about his being duped in the Bernard Madoff's money-making  scheme, which fooled many clever people.

He made two very revealing comments during the interview.

1.    His mom always told him,”Don’t be so willing to do what your friends tell you.”

2.    He described himself as having “a tendency to be a nice guy and to do what people tell me.”

To listen to his interview, go here.

One secret to lessen your child's or students' gullibility is to support her child to think for herself and to encourage individual discernment, both at home and at school. When parents and educators try to do the thinking for children, they unknowingly diminish a child’s self-trust, autonomy, and awareness.

Denise Clark Pope in her book “Doing School”: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students reports on a high-achieving sophomore in high school who explained “sincerely that, ideally, he wishes he could forget about the grades and just do the work the way he wants to do it. He wishes he could write papers the way he would like to see them written, instead of how the teachers want to see them.”

Kevin says with a sigh, “I wish I could say I’m an individual, and I am not going to sacrifice my individuality for a grade, you know…just write for writing’s sake.”

This is one place gullibility begins—when a young person feels they have to pay attention to others more than to herself. She becomes a people-pleaser and stops thinking for herself.. Then she is more easily prey for others who want take advantage of her naivete.

I just
bought three beautiful books for holiday gifts from the Global Fund for Children. The Global Fund for Children’s mission
is to advance the dignity of children and youth around the world. GFC pursues its mission by making small
grants to innovative community-based organizations working with some of the
world’s most vulnerable children and youth.

One of the outstanding contributions
GFC makes is by a dynamic media program that, through books, documentary
photography, and film, highlights the issues affecting children and celebrates
the global society in which we all live. Their books are BEAUTIFUL and
inspiring!

The books are for children ages
infant to early teens. I bought two copies of Global Babies, a boardbook for
infants and toddlers with close-up photos of babies from several areas of the
world. This book was recognized by Oprah as outstanding.

The other book I bought is Come Out
and Play, which has full-color photos of children playing around the world. Photos
include Playing a string game in Egypt, Riding a tricycle in the Dominican
Republic, Flying a kite in China. These books make excellent conversation
starters with children about different cultures and the lives of people around
the world. Make sure you have a globe handy!

Plus the books are reasonably priced
for these interesting economic times.

With a
small investment of money, you have a beautiful book for a child, you support a
non-profit that makes an important contribution to children who need it most,
and you expand your child’s global awareness. What a delightful investment and
way to share the joy of the season!