Media Literacy for Kids
If your kid has ever declared something like “Well, TikTok said so!” …you know the particular kind of shiver I’m talking about. The world is LOUD, and kids are growing up in a sea of headlines, memes, and clickbait. That’s why teaching news literacy—how to figure out what’s trustworthy and what’s trash—isn’t just useful, it’s essential.
Luckily, there are some excellent resources out there designed just for kids and teens:
News Literacy Project’s “Checkology” – An interactive platform where kids practice spotting misinformation, analyzing sources, and thinking like journalists.
News-o-matic – A kid-friendly news app that covers current events at different reading levels (bonus: it’s ad-free).
PBS NewsHour Extra – Lesson plans and articles written with students in mind, making complex stories more accessible.
AllSides for Schools – Helps kids compare how different outlets cover the same story, so they can see bias in action.
KidsPost (Washington Post) – News designed for younger readers that still treats them like thoughtful humans.
For homeschoolers, these can double as reading comprehension, social studies, and critical thinking all in one swoop. You can even make it a household project: pick one headline a week, read how different sources cover it, and talk about what’s fact, what’s opinion, and what’s pure clickbait. For what it's worth, I also love using AP News Oddities for this, because the weird and wacky headlines can be a nice break from...well. Everything.*
Because here’s the truth: we can’t control the noise, but we can give our kids the tools to sort through it. And honestly? Watching them side-eye a sketchy meme with a “hmm, but where’s the source?” is one of the most satisfying parenting wins out there.
Stay loud, stay curious, and may your group chats be forever free of conspiracy theories.
