Philosophy is not just for adults and it is not just about famous philosophers like Kant, Locke, and Plato. Philosophy is about asking big questions, questions without defined answers. And who loves asking questions more than children? They are always wondering and curious and love to ask “why?” and philosophy is an outlet to allow them to explore their “why’s.”
In many school districts, philosophy is not included in the curriculum for students of any age because it is not a core subject as are math, science, English, and history. We believe that philosophy should be included in school curriculums because philosophical thinking is beneficial at all ages. Philosophy can be incorporated into a variety of school subjects, and helps students form strong arguments and develop critical thinking skills. Philosophy can bring comfort to kids who are full of questions, and can be a refreshing break from the traditional school day that over-emphasizes correct answers and standardized learning.
The resources below are meant for parents and teachers looking to learn more, or for anyone trying to make an argument in favor of philosophy being taught in schools.
For parents and teachers whose kids can never stop asking “why?”
- PLATO has a plethora of resources including lesson plans, webinars, and more for anyone interested in practicing philosophical discussion with children.
Literature that supports and encourages philosophy in the classroom:
- Ethics for the Very Young: A Philosophy Curriculum for Early Childhood Education by Erik Kenyon- excerpt
- Kenyon’s book includes lesson plans for having philosophical discussions with children.
- Big Ideas for Little Kids: Teaching Philosophy Through Children’s Literature by Thomas Wartenberg- excerpt
- If you’ve ever read a children’s book and thought about how complex the ideas in the book are, this may be a resource for you to have these discussions with children. This chapter talks about a book called Morris the Moose, in which Morris makes illogical arguments and tries to defend them with faulty reasoning.
- The Philosophy of Childhood by Gareth Matthews- excerpt
- This chapter includes quotes from actual children discussing philosophical topics and really brings to life how children think and process.