Introducing Marta! She’s perceptive, she’s creative, and she’s out to build a better world- in Spanish!

They’re all good uses of two months off, but it’s really important to note that for a kid, learning doesn’t stop when school finishes. They may not be keen to do math worksheets and grammar exercises, but they do eventually (sometimes quickly) get bored if they aren’t kept engaged and thinking. Summer is the perfect time to brush up on and build thinking skills, and your kid doesn’t even have to know they’re doing it.

What we need is filters for our kids, ways for them to determine what’s useful, appropriate, and accurate. We need them to be picky about the information they accept and consume.

Critical thinking is one of the most important skills you foster in a kid. You could even go as far as saying it’s a survival skill for the 21st century. However, given the sheer volume of information floating around out there (and given the fact that the pile keeps getting bigger), critical thinking on its own may not be enough anymore.

There may only be one International Women’s Day, but you don’t have to wait until it comes around to take on big questions with a little thinker. Wonderful conversation and the critical thinking skills that result from it are always reason to celebrate.

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.

Grab a cup of tea, put your feet up, throw out a big question, and (with sincerity) ask “What do you think?” In this case, silence is gold

Kids have never been privy to so much at such an early age as they are now, and they very badly need to know how to filter and find what’s true, what’s important, what’s helpful, and pass on things that are just interesting. They need to know when and how to act on this information.

Perhaps when we shy away from teaching critical thinking to our kids, it’s because we’re seeing it through the smoggy lenses of our grown-up definition. We’re so afraid of our kids not trusting us, talking back to us, and being unhappily skeptical about everything that we forget what it feels like for a little thinker to be critical. For a child, critical thinking is an exploration, a collaboration, and even an adventure.

Your kids’ extra screen time doesn’t have to be a source of guilt or a disaster. If your kids go for quality over quantity, there are fun and enriching ways to turn television, movies, games, and apps into learning opportunities.

Ah, the holidays… visits from family and friends, sumptuous meals, thoughtful gifts, and for many families, a whole lot of time with kids who would ordinarily be busy at school. How does a parent with an already-hectic schedule keep little hands occupied, while keeping young minds supple and ready to go back to class in the new year?

Our latest release “Idunno” is now available in interactive eBook format!

Yes, even philosophers have a special day, and this is it!

Today, we celebrate the asking of big questions, the curiosity behind them, and the patient and creative stream of thought with which we work through them. Around these parts, we also celebrate the little thinkers who seem to effortlessly embrace philosophy, and the big thinkers who encourage them.

Why not equip our kids with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate these choppy waters, and form useful habits when they’re still malleable?

Perhaps your little thinker has shown leadership potential (and we don’t mean just the average bossiness). Perhaps they haven’t, but you still want them to understand the concept, so they can choose their leaders more effectively. Leadership is an important subject for any child, for a number of reasons, and one that’s actually fun to discuss.

There is no greater source of interesting and captivating ideas than philosophy. Even small children have strong opinions about philosophical issues, as well as a drive to be heard, and an interest in hearing new and novel viewpoints.

With the new school year approaching (or already started, in some cases), it’s time to double down and really get your kids back into thinking shape. Even if it was a summer of sleeping in, video games, and blockbuster movies, there are still ways to hit the ground running once your child is back in the classroom.

We’re over-the-moon to announce the release of our latest book, “Idunno”. Idunno is a being who’s helpful, sweet, and friendly, but strangely intimidating to grown-ups. But if properly cared for and acknowledged, Idunno can make life interesting, fun, and full of learning opportunities.

Little thinkers are curious beyond measure, but don’t necessarily have the filters in place to separate the good from the bad. Let’s face it, a lot of us big people are still learning how to navigate the information age ourselves.

Admittedly, the idea of teaching a child to argue seems strange. Along with eating, moving, and occasionally napping, disagreeing appears to be second nature to a small person. Something we don’t always think about as big people is the fact that an argument, at least a good one, is much more than just disagreement or opposition. It’s a way to rationally present a point of view, and more importantly, back it up with solid reasons. It’s a way to communicate and test ideas objectively. If this sounds like something that’s beyond a child’s capabilities, reconsider.