Children are birth philosops
When the child asked: "What is the meaning of life? , you can laugh at being cuteness or confused about where to start.
It is easy to put these questions aside because they seem too complicated for children. Even great philos philos philos philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle once believed that people were not ready for philosophy until they were in their 30s.
However, the children think differently. They ask profound daily questions like "Why are we here?" or "What does fairness mean? , even interesting questions like "Why do we keep feeding cats, even though they never say thank you? ".
According to research by author and educator Jana Mohr Lone, who has taught philosophy to children for more than 20 years, children's openness and less prejudiced psychology are the factors that make them congenital philosophy.
This openness is a solid foundation for us to encourage philosophical conversations. By nurturing this curiosity, parents are helping their children develop into individuals who are eager to learn, thoughtful and meditate.
3 simple steps for a philosophical dialogue with children
Participating in philosophy does not mean you have all the answers. You just need to start a conversation. When your child asks an in-depth question, parents can discuss it in three steps, known in the academic world as concept analysis:
1. Reflection
First, suggest that your child think about the question. Start with a simple question: "What do you think? ".
This allows your child to explore their personal experiences. The answer may be very genuine: "I live for football and the Bluey bear!" The purpose is to help children recognize and express their first opinions.
2. Generalization
Next, expand the scope of discussion. You may ask, "Do you think that is the meaning of life for everyone? ".
This step opens up a philosophical discussion beyond its scope. Your children may realize that the meaning of life for each person is different. This is the time for children to start looking for examples (or counter-examples) to consider a multidimensional perspective.
3. Abstration
Finally, move towards abstraction by asking, "What makes life meaningful for everyone? ".
Football or cheese may not be attractive to everyone, but children will be encouraged to find common ground. The child's answer may be: "Everyone likes to spend time with friends and family".
Suddenly, you have had a rich dialogue, opening the door to learn more deeply about the true nature of love, friendship, or happiness.
Benefits beyond academic capacity
Educational research has shown that philosophical dialogue brings many great benefits. It not only helps improve logical reasoning, reading comprehension and toanation but also enhances children's self-respect and rotation (an important aspect of cognitive development).
Next time your child asks a big question, cherish that moment. By encouraging your child to reflect, explore different perspectives and look at the whole picture, you not only help them understand the world but also create a premise for them to become thoughtful and think about the future.
