Debate Club — Argue Your Case
Child picks a position on a kid-appropriate topic and argues for it with reasoning and evidence, while the parent plays the opposing side. The agent guides the parent through a structured mini-debate, observing argumentation structure, evidence use, ability to address counterarguments, and persuasive language. This activity reveals advanced language skills at the intersection of logic, rhetoric, and social communication.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
No materials needed. Sit comfortably facing each other. Let the child choose a topic they feel strongly about — passion makes for better arguments. The parent takes the opposite position regardless of personal opinion. Keep the tone playful and respectful. This is a practice debate, not a real argument. Both sides should smile and have fun.
How it works
- 1~45s
Round one — opening statements! Tell your child: 'You have one minute to tell me WHY you're right. Give me your best reasons.' Let them make their case without interrupting. When they finishes, I want to know: how many separate reasons did your child give? Were they actual reasons with logic, or just opinions repeated louder? Did they try to give evidence or examples to back up the reasons? And how was the language — clear and organized, or jumbled and stream-of-consciousness? Tell me your child's opening argument!
Watch for: Child's argument structure — number of reasons, organization, and logical connection between claim and support
- 2~45s
Your turn! Give your child a counterargument — one or two good reasons why the opposite side might be right. Keep it respectful but make it a real challenge. Then say: 'What do you say to THAT?' This is the rebuttal round, and it's where we learn the most. Can your child actually respond to your specific point, or does they just repeat their original argument? Does they acknowledge that your point has some merit before countering it, or dismiss it entirely? And does they get emotional and defensive, or stay cool and logical? Tell me about the exchange!
Watch for: Child's ability to address a counterargument — engaging with the opposing point rather than ignoring or merely restating their own position
- 3~40s
Time for closing arguments! Tell your child: 'You get one final chance to make your case. What is the single strongest reason you're right?' This forces your child to prioritize — to pick the best argument out of everything discussed. Watch for: does they choose the strongest point or just the last one they thought of? Does they incorporate anything from the debate — any point of yours that they addressed or any new idea that came up? And does the closing feel like a conclusion, or just more arguing? Give me your child's closing statement!
Watch for: Child's ability to synthesize a debate into a strongest-point closing — prioritization, integration, and conclusion skills
- 4~40s
Here's the ultimate challenge. Say to your child: 'Now argue the OTHER side. You have to make the case for MY position — the one you've been arguing against!' This is called 'steel-manning' and it's one of the hardest thinking skills there is. Can your child genuinely argue for the opposite position? Does they give real reasons or joke reasons? Can they separate what they personally believes from what can be argued? This reveals perspective-taking and intellectual flexibility at the highest level. Tell me how your child does with the switch!
Watch for: Child's ability to argue for the opposing position — intellectual flexibility, perspective-taking, and separation of belief from argument