Think young children believe everything they’re told? Think again. Kids begin feeling skeptical about certain things teachers and parents tell them as early as age 6, according to new research. This is especially the case when they hear something that surprises them, say scientists. So what happens when children are feeling more skeptical? Researchers from the University of Toronto and Harvard say they learn on their own through observation and experimentation, seeking out additional information by asking questions or by testing claims. “The research shows that as children age, they become more skeptical of what adults tell them,” says lead author Samantha Cottrell, a senior lab member from the Childhood Learning and Development (ChiLD) Lab at the University of Toronto, in a statement. “This explains why older children are more likely to try to verify claims and are more intentional about their exploration of objects.”