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...