A surprising video, a message marked urgent and a useful-looking explanation can all arrive while your child is trying to answer one homework question. Checking whether information is true matters. So does deciding which information deserves attention in the first place.
Try asking, “What were you trying to find before this appeared?” That small question opens a conversation about purpose, curiosity and choice. Children can practise making those choices without opening a real feed.
A timely idea for Digital Citizenship Week
Common Sense Education's Digital Citizenship Week runs from 19–23 October 2026. Its middle-school activities include critical ignoring: choosing where to focus attention in an information-filled world. The programme also explores how algorithms shape online experiences.
BAIO's “Investigate, Skip or Ask” activity below is an original family discussion exercise inspired by that broad theme. It is not an official Common Sense lesson, an assessment or evidence that completing it improves attention.
What does critical ignoring mean here?
For this activity, it means choosing deliberately what to examine, what to leave for another time and when to involve someone who can help. Skipping a post does not mean declaring it false. It may simply be unrelated to your current task.
It also does not mean dismissing an idea because you disagree with it. A relevant, well-supported explanation can deserve consideration even when it challenges your first impression. The question is how to spend attention thoughtfully while remaining open to learning.
Set up three choices
Write “Investigate”, “Skip for now” and “Ask a trusted adult” on three pieces of paper. Read the fictional scenarios below together and place each under a heading. Allow a card to move if the discussion changes your child's mind.
Investigate means identify a sensible next check, such as looking for the original source or comparing a claim with a teacher-recommended reference. It does not mean clicking an unknown link or trying to solve a concerning situation alone.
Skip for now means the item does not need your attention at this moment. Ask means a parent, teacher or another trusted adult can help with uncertainty or a concern. Sometimes asking is the first step before deciding whether to investigate further.
Try five fictional scenarios
1. The interesting detour
You are finding out how seeds grow. A suggested video promises ten surprising facts about dinosaurs. It looks enjoyable, but it does not help with the question you are working on.
One reasonable choice is “Skip for now”. Ask your child whether they would return to it during time set aside for curiosity or entertainment. Enjoyment is a valid purpose too; the point is to notice when the purpose has changed.
2. The useful-looking AI explanation
An AI-generated paragraph explains seed germination, but gives no source. You want to use one of its claims in a school project.
“Investigate” is a useful starting choice, with adult support where needed. Ask which exact claim needs checking and where you could look: a science textbook, a teacher-recommended resource or another suitable original source. Clear wording alone does not settle whether the claim is correct.
3. The message that wants an immediate reaction
A fictional post says, “Everyone who disagrees with this is foolish. Reply now!” It provides no explanation or evidence and is unrelated to your task.
You could choose “Skip for now” without joining the argument. Discuss what the wording is inviting the reader to do. An upsetting or exciting tone does not establish whether a claim is true, and you do not have to respond to every invitation to argue.
4. The unverified school announcement
A forwarded message says that tomorrow's school event has moved to another time. It has no date, named sender or link to an official notice.
Choose “Ask a trusted adult” and identify the school's usual communication channel for checking the information. The message might be right or wrong. Because it could affect your plans, ignoring it completely would not resolve the uncertainty. Avoid forwarding it as confirmed news before checking.
5. The request that feels wrong
An unfamiliar account offers a prize and asks for your home address or a private photograph. Your child is unsure what to do.
Choose “Ask a trusted adult”. For this scenario, the next step is to stop interacting and show the message to an adult, without sending the requested information. Do not turn it into a challenge to investigate the sender. Likewise, threats, bullying or something that makes a child feel unsafe deserve support rather than a silent instruction to ignore them.
Compare reasons, not scores
Ask each person to complete this sentence: “I chose this because my goal was ___, and my next step would be ___.” The explanation is more useful than counting how many cards went under each heading.
Change one detail and try again. If the dinosaur video becomes relevant to tomorrow's project, does the choice change? If the school announcement comes directly from the school's normal channel with a clear date, what uncertainty remains? Context can change a reasonable response.
For younger children, use three scenarios and talk through them aloud. For older students, ask what evidence could change their choice and when they would stop checking. A parent or teacher can help set a manageable boundary so the exercise stays useful.
Connect it to AI literacy
Our earlier recommendation game explored how choices can shape what appears next in a feed. This activity adds the viewer's decision: does this suggestion help with what I want to do, and what response does it deserve?
A recommended item and an AI-generated answer are starting points for judgment. Children can practise explaining their purpose, checking relevant claims and recognising when help is needed. These conversations fit BAIO's focus on reasoning and responsible AI use.
Continue with our recommendation game and family AI mistake challenge, linked below. Finish today's activity with one family question: “What is worth our attention right now?”
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Frequently Asked Questions
When my child skips a post, are they deciding it is fake?
No. It may be accurate but irrelevant to your current purpose. Deciding whether to spend time on something is different from deciding whether its claims are true.
Should my child ignore a message that deserves adult attention?
No. If a message involves threats, bullying, requests for private information or anything that makes them feel unsafe, encourage them to stop interacting and seek help from a trusted adult.
Does my child need an AI account for the Investigate, Skip or Ask activity?
No. Use paper headings and the fictional scenarios in this article. The exercise is a conversation about choices, not a test of a child's real browsing behaviour.