Must-see Video Clip

A friend forwarded this to me today, and I think it really describes the paradigm shift happening with children and adolescents. I love its "teach me to think" message, and I think it's great that something as old as philosophy can help to make the most of a modern technological movement. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8

Yes, Virginia...

There's really no bad time to challenge little minds with big questions, even amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Here are a few questions you might take on with wee philosophers:

• Why is it better to give than to receive? Is it okay to think of ourselves sometimes? How do we help ourselves while helping others?
• How can you tell if Santa has been to your house? Can you trust your eyes and look for clues? What kind of clues prove that Santa has been there? This is obviously a question for smaller thinkers. For the slightly older and more cynical, you might want to discuss whether it's okay to believe in Santa in the first place.
  
• What makes the most beautiful Christmas tree (or wreath, gingerbread house, menorah, Kwanzaa decorations, etc.)? What does it mean for something to be beautiful?

Here's wishing everyone a lot of cheer, and a few deep thoughts in the coming holiday season.

Don't Let the Dimples and Drool Fool You

Alison Gopnik is a psychologist from UC Berkeley with a background in philosophy. She, like many of us, is convinced that even while we're in diapers, we're thinking about the universe, and considering the needs and feelings of those around us. True, it's difficult to strike up a discussion of postmodernism over Cheerios and sippy-cups. However, if we approach philosophy on a little person's terms, we do see evidence that they think about more than just their pacifiers and their next meal. Gopnik calls babies the "research and development" department of the human race, and insists that they're smart and curious, even without an entourage of expensive, high tech toys. Here are a couple of interesting clips, including a fantastic interview with Stephen Colbert.

http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/the-colbert-report/full-episodes/the-colbert-report---october-7-2009/#clip220761

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERSiBlNz8UU

New Article Up

Check out the new posting on SoulsCode.com:
http://www.soulscode.com/toddlers-in-togas-the-examined-life-starts-early/

Fall Workshop!

What Are We, Really? (Environmental Philosophy for Children aged 7-12)

Have you ever wondered what makes a human a human? Can you explain what makes us different from other animals, or even plants? In this workshop, we’ll step into the wonderful world of philosophy, and talk about humans, our environment, and why we should be kind to our planet. Meet famous minds, participate in fun activities, and learn to philosophize like a pro!


• Saturday, October 24, 10-11:30am at POWER Halton Hills
• free admission, includes games, activities, discussions and take-home resources for parents and teachers
• register by calling (905) 873-1820 or emailing info@powerhalton.ca
  

New Websites!

In an effort to make philosophy a family affair, we're proud to introduce two new websites:

www.teensthinkaboutit.com
www.localphilosophers.com

We love questions, comments and feedback. Please visit and enjoy!

Who Knows What May Be Lurking in Young Minds?

For those who want to discuss philosophy with their children or students, but aren't sure how to get started, here's a book that might help.

The Dead Philosophers' Cafe by Vittorio Hosle is an entertaining series of letters (real ones) between a philosophy professor and an eleven-year-old girl. Nora (the younger participant), has done a little reading on her own, and is full of questions about the meaning of life, the nature of ideas, and other mysteries. Over the course of two years, the unlikely pair cover a number of great thinkers, and occasionally disagree. The letters not only demonstrate the incredible potential of young philosophers, but also ways in which adults can begin difficult, but important conversations.

Add this to your list of back-to-school supplies!

Women Philosophers: Look Closely. They're There.

There's no shortage of great thinkers, but in philosophy, it's sometimes difficult to find females in the crowd. Admittedly, most historical eras did not encourage deep thought in ladies, but make no mistake, there were still a significant number of them who decided to buck tradition and use their heads. For thousands of years, women have been involved in logic, ethics, theory of reality, theory of knowledge, political theory, religious philosophy, aesthetics, and much more.

If you have a curious little girl looking for a new role model, or if you'd like to present a more inclusive picture to your little boy, check out these wonderful websites, and meet some amazing women who have contributed to the evolution of thought and wisdom.

http://www.women-philosophers.com/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_philosophers
http://www.uh.edu/~cfreelan/SWIP/women.html
http://www.geocities.com/athens/forum/9974/

Change in Schedule for Children's Workshop

"What Are We Really?", our workshop for children interested in philosophy and the environment, has been moved to Thursday, July 23 from 10-11:30 am. Young thinkers ages 7-12 are welcome, and this is a free event. There will be discussions about critters of all shapes and sizes (including humans), fun activities, as well as take-home resources for parents. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, please contact POWER Halton Hills at info@powerhalton.ca, or at (905) 873-1820. If you'd like to know more about the workshop itself, feel free to contact Amy Leask at amy@enabletc.com, or at (905) 864-1858 x3. Hope to see you there!

Think and Ride

Well, it isn't explicitly about children's philosophy, but I think this article does drive home the idea that great thought doesn't have to happen in an academic setting. All of us, including children, spend a great deal of time doing menial things, like commuting, or cutting the grass, or washing the dishes. It's often through routine tasks like these that we get five or ten precious minutes of quiet to actually think about nothing in particular, and these moments present a rare opportunity to ponder the mysteries of the universe. Just as I firmly believe that Sartre, Aristotle and Rand belong in conversations with little people, I believe that there's room for them in our own daily tasks as well.

We'll never get the opportunity to chat with Gandhi on a crowded city bus, but...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8117567.stm

Coming Events!

• Diversity matters! Learn about the many species that share our planet, and discuss ways to keep them happy and healthy. Visit Amy and POWER at the Georgetown Market place on Friday, May 29 from 4-8 for demonstrations and information.
• Adults need philosophy too! Step into big ideas and discuss our place in the ecosystem at POWER Halton Hills on Thursday, June 25 from 7 to 9 pm. Email amy@enabletc.com or call (905) 864-1858 x3 for details.
• Kids care about the environment! Join us for a children's eco-philosophy workshop at POWER Halton Hills on July 16 from 10-11:30 am. Email amy@enabletc.com or call (905) 864-1858 x3 for more details.

Robots are people too...or are they?

"Animated and Automated", a series of philosophy activities for young thinkers curious about our mechanical friends, is now posted at http://www.kidsthinkaboutit.com/Curriculum. Check it out!

Beauty From a Shorter Perspective

Little thinkers may not know (or care) about Aristotelian ideals of art, but as the saying goes, they definitely "know what they like". Unafraid to voice their opinions, and unburdened by the prejudices we grow into as adults, they may actually school their parents and teachers on the virtues of creativity and innovation. With tiny thinkers in tow, a trip to any local art gallery can be turned into a philosophy lesson in aesthetics. Here are some suggestions:

• Choose a small room in the gallery, stand in the middle, and have your kid thinkers choose their favourite piece. Ask them to explain what they like about the piece, and make sure they're specific. Be sure to distinguish between features of the actual piece (colour, shape, etc.), and how it makes them feel.
• Have them pretend that they are the artist that created the piece, and ask them to explain its message. They can also role play, and describe how they were feeling on the day it was created, and what they were trying to say to people viewing the piece.
• Make comparisons between pieces. Ask your little thinker to find one piece that is beautiful, one that it ugly and one that is interesting. Discuss what each of these words means to them. (Ex. This painting is beautiful because...but this one is ugly because...)
• Introduce the idea of subjectivity to them. Ask them to choose a piece that they like today, but that they might not like another day, if they were in a different mood. (Ex. On a grumpy day, I might like this one better because...)
• Emphasize that there aren't right and wrong answers when discussing art. The important thing is that they explain why they think the way they do, and give examples.

A Big Thank You!

This year's March Break workshops at the Toronto School of Philosophy were a blast! Many thanks to the staff at the school, and to the parents and students who participated. Be sure to check out our nifty photo gallery at www.kidsthinkaboutit.com.

More events are in the works, so keep your ear to the ground. If you are interested in participating, or setting up your own workshop in a classroom, community group, or for a special occasion, send us a message at amy@enabletc.com.

Calling All Great Young Thinkers!

Coming this March Break to beautiful downtown Toronto: philosophy workshops for kids! For more information, email Amy at amy@enabletc.com or call (905) 864-1858 x2.

New Members of "The Creative Class"

We're all tapping our feet nervously, hoping to see our economy show signs of picking up sooner than later. While we're trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible, it's important to view this situation with "philosopher vision", as an opportunity to reevaluate what we've taken for granted, and examine our values with a critical eye.

According to Richard Florida of the University of Toronto, the capacity to think creatively and innovatively is no longer just a novelty- it's a survival skill, both for individuals and for societies. Florida attributes revolutionary creations like Google to the emergence of a new breed of thinker, one who isn't afraid to break new ground and approach obstacles with a fresh perspective. This new "Creative Class" might not pull us from our economic slump tomorrow, but according to Florida, it's the best long-term solution.

At this moment, the next generation of creative, critical thinkers is learning to tie its shoes and pour juice without spilling. If you thought it was too early to really put your child's spongy, absorbent little brain in the way of big ideas, think again. They will undoubtedly surprise you with their ability to "colour outside the lines", but they'll also reach puberty with an incredible cognitive arsenal at their fingertips. Philosophy has long been turning out revolutionary minds, and your wee thinker could be the one to turn out the next pivotal idea.

For more information on Richard Florida's "Creative Class", visit http://www.creativeclass.com/.

Sitting on a Gold Mine: Kid-Friendly Philosophy Resources

A five-year-old may find Plato's toga and sandals highly amusing, but they're not likely sit still while their parents read bedtime tales from " The Republic". Luckily, there's no shortage of books, movies and other materials that are both fun and informative, philosophically speaking. In addition to having wonderful, spongy little minds, children usually have their own personal stash of useful media.

For example, while on a flight this Christmas, I took myself down memory lane and watched Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". Amidst dancing gargoyles and villagers bursting into song, the man-monster distinction took centre stage. In addition to being a two-hour diversion, it could also have been a great opportunity to discuss human identity and ethics.

Virtually any favourite book or television episode can be turned into a lesson in deep thought, and it doesn't have to be heavy or tedious. Dr. Seuss, Winnie the Pooh, and Robert Munsch fit the bill nicely, as does any superhero comic, or science fiction flick. What turns kid stuff into philosophy is a little bit of reflection. Simple questions like "What did you think of that idea?" or "Do you believe that could really happen?" or "If you were that person, would you do that?" are often enough to generate discussion, and being able to use their favourite stories as examples can be incredibly enpowering for a little person.

As if kids need another excuse to watch cartoons...

Got plans for March Break?

Coming this March Break to beautiful downtown Toronto: philosophy workshops for kids! For more information, email Amy at amy@enabletc.com or call (905) 864-1858 x2.

Philosophers as Characters

It's not difficult to see how philosophical inquiry itself can be beneficial to young thinkers, particularly since they seem to be so good at it on their own. However, as children also have a keen appreciation of personal histories and peculiar human quirks, it's also fun to introduce great thinkers as people too. Here are a few philosophers with interesting characteristics and habits.

• As a child, Rene Descartes drove his teachers crazy with questions. He was the kid with his hand perpetually in the air.
• Pythagoras refused to eat beans, fearing that they weaken his life force. Talk about a picky eater!
• Ayn Rand worked as an extra in Hollywood movies before becoming a novelist and philosopher.
• Immanual Kant was so punctual, his neighbours set their clocks by his morning walk.
• Plato annoyed his friends so much that they sold him into slavery to teach him a lesson. They bought him back a little later.
• Friedrich Nietzsche grew up as the only boy in a house full of women. He was raised by his mother, his sisters, his aunts and his grandmother.

Is Anything Off-Limits?

Adults who are new to philosophy are often shocked at the questions asked in this field of inquiry. Time and time again, I hear things like "I'd never even thought to ask about that." For grown-ups, there's a bizarre novelty in discussing things like the existence of God, good and evil, and proving that the world around us actually exists.

It's strange and ironic that we often assume that children are too young to tackle these questions. For a small thinker, these issues come up on a daily basis. When we're five or six, the nature of reality isn't just something we consider over drinks, but rather something we're faced with all day long. Right and wrong aren't easily grasped or consistent, and even our own identity as tiny humans is a puzzle. In short, while adults are busy asking whether they're ready to handle difficult questions, children are already busy working them out. And it's not traumatic for them either. It's just part of the landscape.

Go ahead! Ask a kid what makes animals different from humans, or whether babies can think before they can talk. Pour a couple glasses of chocolate milk and chat about time travel, or the value of honesty. In all likelihood, they'll reply "What took you so long?"