In the shuffle, it’s very easy to forget to check in with our little thinkers to get their take on the merriment and festivities. In jumping in with both feet, are we missing an opportunity to develop their thinking skills and get a bird’s eye view of what’s going on in their minds?

We start to believe that in order to get anything important done, to learn anything of consequence, we have to be serious about it. There are so many ways for a child to learn philosophy through play, and so many reasons why philosophy needs to be an integral part of a child’s learning.

It seems like such a big, complicated topic, because it is. Thinking about how, when, where, what and even why we think is one of the more complex things we can ponder. It’s also one of the most important, and yes, it is doable with kid thinkers too.

Reading with your kids not only helps them grow into better readers, but also into better thinkers. Diving into a good book helps to make children aware of other perspectives and possibilities, and it also opens the door for discussion of big questions and complex issues.