You may find yourself flipping blindly through the categories of this blog. However, articles are grouped by topic, and those topics have been defined very specifically and with a careful purpose. I’ve outlined below my intentions with each of the categories on this blog.

Community Skeptics [ Articles ]

A significant part of science education is working in the community to promote science education and rational thought. No only does this set a good example for a younger generation, but the role of a parent is extended to include supporting a society and environment supportive of your goals as a parent. Community Skeptics can be as simple as meeting with other skeptics or as complex as actively providing information to a public audience.

Critical Thought Toolkit [ Articles ]

Raising kids who can think critically is like tackling any other project: you need to have the right tools at your disposal. You wouldn’t build a fence without a hammer and a saw. You wouldn’t grill a steak without a proper fire and a pair of tongs. You wouldn’t change your oil without a wrench and some coveralls. Why would you think you could raise a skeptical kid without the proper tools, too? This category covers tools that I think are important to build up strong, critical thinking in youth — and any age.

Encounters of the Mind [ Articles ]

The role of the average skeptic could easily be defined as an ambassador for science and critical thought. I personally don’t like to think of this as an offensive participant in the match between fact and entertainment, but rather a participant who defends a defensible position. Often, this means looking at real examples, real issues, and real aspects of culture that are governed by beliefs, superstition, mysticism, and pseudoscience.

Meta skep/dad [ Articles ]

This page, skep/dad, is a blog about raising kids who are critical thinkers. Occasionally, as the normal course of writing any blog, it is necessary to talk about the blog itself. Filed here readers will find information about the skep/dad blog, my own thoughts about the progress and purpose of the blog past, present, and future, and any news pertaining to the site itself. It is a space to talk about something besides the main topic, but that which is still very important.

One Hundred Things [ Articles ]

I think every adult should have a list of things to do before they die — a bucket list, some might call it — so too every child should have a parental-supported list of things to do before they leave the age of innocence and become a teenager. And I have a few suggestions.

Reasoned Education [ Articles ]

Education, be it from a teacher or a parent, is the process of (a) transmitting knowledge and (b) enabling the analysis of that knowledge. The first part can be as simple as reciting facts, reading from a book, or observing the world around us. The second part requires both a little more practice in critical thought and awareness of that surrounding world. As fathers (or parents and teachers) being actively aware of what constitutes an education founded in reason and critical thought is vital to teaching, but also ensuring kids have good teachers.

Science Fair Projects [ Articles ]

The idea of a skeptical science fair project is redundant. Truly winning projects are both scientifically sound and teach kids to think critically about predicting, planning, methodology, and evidence. When I was in University I volunteered as a Science Fair Judge and I saw a lot of good (and a lot of bad) projects. But this category is geared towards projects that get kids involved in issues that have already been touched upon in the skeptical community — projects where the wealth of background information comes from other critical thinkers.

skep/dad thoughts [ Articles ]

Sometimes I just need to write something simple and reflect on my own life as a parent. That’s all.

Skeptical Mindsets [ Articles ]

This sub-section of the blog is yet another set of tools for critical thinkers. But where the Critical Thought Toolkit category finds focus on tools for raising critically thinking kids, this category is a more general approach to skepticism. I, myself, am but a novice with regard to logical fallacies, unraveling truth from fantasy, and generally dissecting the layers of opinion and ideology that obscure facts. Initially, I’ll use this space to discuss general “rules and guidelines” for skeptical minds, as I see them, and try to relate this to living a life that is balanced between reality and entertainment.

The Three Eyes [ Articles ]

At the heart of critical thinking (at least in my humble opinion) are three foundations of personal aptitude that I call “the three eyes.” I’ve put a lot of thought in what essence of character contributes to a mind — and a human being, for that matter — that is able to look at the universe with an enlightened perspective. The three eyes — independence, integrity, and imagination — form the basis of my argument for critical thought in kids, and also the means by which to achieve that skill.

Thinking Back [ Articles ]

Stepping into a more “traditional’ blog format, occasionally I like to reflect on the days of my own youth. Usually, some recent event will have triggered some memory relating to my own journey from kid to critical thinker, and I’ll like to write about it here. Occasionally, I’ll provide evidence to support what I’m writing about here, but this is mostly one of those categories for opinions and anecdotes.