Pop or Simmer? Two Ways To Learn
How does your little thinker learn? It’s tempting to focus on what they’re learning, but have you ever really watched to see how their mind works, how their personality mingles with the way they study the world around them?
Some young minds function like popcorn. They’re quick, enthusiastic, nimble and passionate. They pick things up in bursts and are equally speedy with their explanations. They’re fantastic brainstormers and can rattle off a list of big questions like nobody’s business. When asked for their thoughts, they’ll have a million of them at the ready, and wonder what took you so long.
Others are more like a pot of stew. They’re careful, meticulous, and they take their time. They add one or two new ideas at a time, and wait patiently to see how things come together. They love having the time and space to compare, contrast, describe and analogize. When asked for their thoughts, they’ll pause, and tell you they’d like to think it over for a bit.
Some learning models and some subject areas may prioritize one type of kid over another other, but philosophy does not. In philosophy, especially philosophy for kids, there’s equal room for both “popcorn” and “stew”. Philosophy can be creative and passionate, but also pensive and thoughtful. Philosophy celebrates the kids who have stockpiles of ideas that they’ve been itching to unload, but also the kids who are meticulous and thorough in their pondering. Being a little philosopher means being eager to explore and discuss, but also acknowledging that some things take time.
Doing philosophy with any kind of kid can help them to fill in the gaps in their thinking skills. Philosophy helps “popcorn” kids by encouraging them to capture their thoughts in some way, so that they can share them and revisit them later. It gives them permission to slow down a little, and to not get caught up in the novelty of new things. It helps “stew” kids to take risks, and to not get stuck in one way of thinking. It encourages them to seek out bright sparks of ideas, and to get excited when they find one.
Philosophy also helps kids (and parents and teacher too) recognize that although we may lean toward being more like popcorn or stew, everyone has a little of both in them, and that we tend to change as we grow up. There’s a time and place for both kinds of thinkers, and philosophy celebrates this.
Are you ready to see what kind of thinking your child brings to the table?
