Hello friend this is a really important post, at this time it is very necessary that parents understand the value of developing critical thinking in children, it is not just about letting them talk but learn to have a sound judgment about things based on their principles and values as you say well in addition to that they are able to have arguments when making decisions in their lives. This is an apprenticeship for life, whoever does not develop critical thinking is condemned to be one more of the bunch that follows what others do and say regardless of whether it is right or wrong because they do not know how to differentiate.