Key Issues: Philosophy for Children (P4C)

Thinking about Thinking in the Early Years

Ideas and activities to unlock current topics.

Philosophy for children focuses on the importance of encouraging children to think, reason and express their thoughts in language. These skills are not only at the heart of the EYFS (kindergartens) but are essential to all successful learning.

Why philosophy?  It is all about thinking

Thinking philosophically helps to consider  the what? where? why? how? questions.

Philosophy for Children will help you to help children to reason, to explain their thinking, to listen and to build on the ideas of others.

The philosophy with children strategy is now practised in more than thirty countries worldwide, and is one of the key ways to develop effective thinking.

During Philosophy for Children discussions, sensitive and complex concepts can arise, and these may include:

love, hate, revenge, justice, power, egality, freedom, belief, friendship, death, honesty, fairness, loyalty, courage, generosity

Philosophical questions are those which have many answers and no right answer.  These questions involve possibilities, opinions, variations, and even a a change of views.

"Thinking skills enable children and young people to reason, question, predict, think independently and develop their capacity for reflection and judgement.   Creative thinking skills can help children and young people understand their own capabilities and qualities as an active learner.   This creative approach contributes to the emotional and social development and well-being of all young people, including those with disabilities.  Philosophy for Children is an approach which advocates setting up a community of enquiry as an interactive method of discussion.'   National Children's Bureau - United Kingdom

Who is this book for?

Introduction - why philosophy? It's all about thinking!

Section One - Philosophy for Children (P4C) and Current Initiatives (in the UK)

• Philosophy for Children (P4C) adn Every Child Matters
• Exploring the Intelligence through P4C
• P4C and the curriculum for the Early Years and Key Stage 1
• P4C, thinking and communication skills
• P4C and making a difference to achievement

Section Two - Philosophy for Chidren (P4C), how to do it

• Incorporating P4C in your daily work
• Following children's own agendas
• Interactive display about thinking
• "Think About' boxes
• Mini-P4C sessions and games
• Thinking about BIG questions
• P4C out of doors
• Using action songs and movement

Section Three -Planning Philosophy for Children (P4C) Sessions

• The shape of the session
• The Ten Elements of the session
• What makes a good question?

Section Four - Examples of Planned Sessions

• Odd one out, and introductory session
• Thinking and Painting, Drawings and Photos, Artefact
• Thinking about Music
• Thinking about Poetry
• Using Stories for Thinking
• Using Persona Dolls in P4C

Section Five - The Outcomes

Outcomes for children, facilitators and parents

Section Six - Find out more

Resources, web sites, books, glossary, curriculum statements

The Philosophy Foundation

The Philosophy Bus from Philosophy Foundation on Vimeo.

Marilyn Bowles

Marilyn Bowles is a practitioner and trainer who works in Leicester, United Kingdom.  She has a particular interest in developing children's emotional and social development through language and practical activities