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?"

Where It All Began

Philosophers going all the way back to Socrates have written about the importance of teaching children to be effective thinkers. However, putting big questions into kid-friendly terms is a relatively new practice. Philosophy is often considered to be a "grown up" subject, reserved for academics. In North America, a major movement in children's philosophy began in the 1980's with Matthew Lipman, a philosophy professor at Columbia University. Lipman theorized that learners as young as six or seven could benefit from the opportunity to think and discuss philosophical questions about reality, knowledge, ethics and the meaning of life. Children are, after all, experts at wondering "Why?" Lipman wrote and used a series of stories that tied "big questions" into childhood experiences. He also created materials to help teachers present these questions to their classes.

Today, organizations for children's philosophy exist in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and several other countries. Parents, educators and philosophers alike are continuously surprised and delighted to find that tiny minds are definitely capable of tackling big ideas. Moreover, children who are encouraged to ask philosophical questions stand to develop thinking skills and awareness that benefit them througought their academic career, and in their personal growth.

To see a documentary about Lipman's work, follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp5lB3YVnlE

Welcome!

This is the inaugural post for KidsThinkAboutit, a blog about bringing philosophy to young (even very young) thinkers. Check back frequently for new ideas and resources, and feel free to comment.