A Little Philosophy on Earth Day

Join me at the Georgetown Marketplace on Saturday, April 24th. I'll be there from 10am to 1pm with fun activities for budding young environmental philosophers.

It's Catching On!

John's Hopkins' University's magazine for young thinkers, "Imagine", has a philosophy centred issue! Have a peek at this link:

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/imagine/20100304_SFF/#/0

Don't Forget the Bigger Kids

We love to indulge little people (including with educational materials), but often forget that learning to think is a life-long process, with many steps between childhood and maturity. Our teen years are often tumultuous, but they also present incredible opportunities, philosophically speaking. Adolescence is when we really learn the ins and outs of human relationships, and when we're forced to deal with difficult issues. More importantly, we're much more articulate than we were as children, and able to put names to ideas and emotions. Many teens find it incredibly empowering to be able to participate in "deep" discussions.

Thankfully, there are a great number of resources designed specifically for teen philosophers. For a list of books and websites, visit www.teensthinkaboutit.com.

March Break Workshops for Kids!

Food and Philosophy Fun for March Break!
Don't Let Good Ideas Go To Waste!

Calling all thinkers aged 8-18! Join us for a Think-A-Thon on Tuesday, March 16 at 87 Up in Georgetown (87 Main St. South).

Thinkers aged 8-12 will be discussing the wonders of robots (and their human friends) from 1:30-3:30 pm. Thinkers aged 13-18 will take a look at the wonders of modern media (yes, even the infamous Facebook and Twitter) from 3:30-5 pm. For those interested in tempting their taste buds as well as their minds, there will also be a variety of fantastic cooking workshops offered during the week.

Think-A-Thon workshops are $10 per thinker, per topic (prices vary for cooking classes). Register by calling Foodstuffs at (905) 877-6569. For more information, see the attached brochure, or call Amy Leask at (905) 864-1858 x2 (email amy@enabletc.com).

Brochure Link:

http://www.foodstuffs.ca/classes/march-break-cooking-classes

Study of Human Nature Starts Really Early

It seems that, along with applesauce and squeak toys, the diaper-set are also into interpreting people's intentions. This article in the Toronto Star discusses our ability to weed out "jerks", and how it develops much sooner than we thought. Psychologist Erik Erikson once theorized that although children have a different framework for logic, they do indeed have it. I wonder if the same is true for morality...

Enjoy!

http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/babiespregnancy/babies/article/762189--infants-know-when-you-re-being-a-jerk

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.