What is Philosophy for Children?

Benefits for Children

• An enquiry based approach to open up children’s learning through the exploration of ideas.
• Gives children the possibility of seeing that their ideas have value, and that others have different ideas that have value too.
• They realise that they don’t always have to be right.
• They have the confidence to ask questions and learn through discussion.
• All learners (including teachers) have opportunities to genuinely enquire.
• A chance to speak and be heard without fear of getting an answer wrong.
• Intelligence grows.
• Gives children who are not considered “academic” a voice and a chance to flourish.
• Gives the “academic” children a chance to think outside the box and to see that the non-academic have inspiring ideas.
• Gives all children value.

What does a session entail?

• A structured session.
• Starts with a stimulus.
• Children are encouraged to draw on their imagination to ask a question based on wonderment (I wonder why…?).
• Children make a collective decision on the question they are most interested in.
• The discussion starts but is then not contained. It follows its own path guided by the children’s thoughts and ideas, agreeing and disagreeing, but always giving a reason for their point of view.

Outcomes for children

• To learn to think before they speak and give reasons for what they say.
• To value their views and the views of others.
• Not taking things personally.
• To learn respect and negotiation.
• To learn not to be fearful.

Other outcomes – beyond Philosophy for Children

• Impact on other areas of the curriculum.
• Lots of ideas for creative writing.
• Creates an enquiring classroom in all areas of the curriculum.
• Affects personal skills, and behaviour in the playground.
• Develops skills necessary for positions of responsibility (school council, worship leaders etc).
• Listening and reasoning skills.
• Independence.