• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Go Socratic Kids

Turn your kids into Socrates - but without the toga

  • Home
  • About
  • Learning Approach
  • Blog
  • Lessons
  • Show Search
Hide Search

What The Repeated ‘Why’ Questions Really Mean

October 3, 2018 - By Matt


Philosophy–it sounds a bit pretentious. It’s from Greek and it means “the love of wisdom,” but simplified it really is about curiosity and wonder. As adults we tend to lose our sense of wonder and often let cynicism push aside curiosity. Not kids though. They have both in abundance. And as a parent you KNOW this because you’ve been subjected to the infinite regression of ‘why’ questions. Just today I had this conversation with my 5 year old:

  • Me: [Sanding the front door in order to re-stain it.]
  • 5yo: What are you doing?
  • Me: I’m sanding the door.
  • 5yo: Why?
  • Me: I have to sand off the old stain to put on new.
  • 5yo: Why?
  • Me: The old stain is wearing off and cracks are growing in the wood.
  • 5yo: Why?
  • Me: Sun and water wear down wood over time.
  • 5yo: Why?
  • Me: Nature uses decay to break down things that have died. It’s an important part of the eco-system but bad for our front door.
  • 5yo: [Pauses for a moment.] Why?

At this point I realize I’m in a loop that possibly might not ever stop until I run out of answers. I usually try to give a serious response to the why questions but I’m trying to get 3 coats of clear coat on with enough time to dry before the coming rain storm later in the week. So I divert the questions.

  • Me: Maybe when I’m done with the door we can talk more about eco-systems. But for now, why do you have a plate of brownies on your head?
  • 5yo: [smiling] I don’t have brownies on my head. You have cupcakes on your head! [runs off to play]

This pattern of questioning comes to kids naturally. This conversation with my 5 year old at the front door had the ability to keep peeling back layers of what I was doing to arrive at some basic and core belief like: what created the earth to have eco-systems. This process at its core is philosophy. Kids are programmed to ask their ‘why’ questions to get to some fundamental truth. A parent on their toes will have patience and indulge the questions (and I really try–just not always when my hands and face are covered in sawdust). Kids need to know that it is ok to ask questions. We need to give them the tools to add rigor to their thinking and teach them to not only follow a good argument but to formulate one for themselves.

As adults, we go about our day-to-day lives without being bothered by these same sorts of questions that children have. We live with a really narrow vision of our lives where children are very open to the big questions. And it’s tempting for us to ignore, dismiss or respond to their question with something like ‘that’s just the way it is!’ What we are telling them is that this type of inquiry–philosophy–isn’t worth their time. And before you know it, they become adults whose most pressing question is what color to paint the door (sigh).

Please follow and like us:
error
fb-share-icon
Tweet
fb-share-icon

Filed Under: Post

Social

RSS
Follow by Email
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Tweet
Pinterest

Primary Sidebar

About Me

Hi, I'm Matt. I tried a crazy experiment with my 8 & 9 year old kids and read Plato with them. Yeah, that ancient greek guy. They were engaged and asked great questions which made me realize how well philosophy can encourage their critical thinking. It sparked a project to create study guides for us to explore other philosophical works. [More]

Share This

RSS
Follow by Email
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Tweet
Pinterest

Purchase Study Guides

20 Fun Lessons In Philosophy

What if an evil scientist switched your brain with Justin Bieber’s? Is there freewill to change who we are? What can the Kanye West of ancient Athens teach us about a simple life. Explore 20 short and fun topics in philosophy together with your kids. Buy eBook – $12.99 Buy Print Copy – $24.99 We […]

3 Classics: Philosophy Lessons For Kids

Introduce your kids to 3 classic philosophical works from Plato, Aristotle and Rene Descartes for one lower price than buying separately.

What Did Aristotle Look For In A BFF? On Friendship - Aristotle

Can you guess Aristotle’s opinion on Instagram followers and Facebook friends? Turns out, he gives us a pretty good answer. What do you think makes a good friendship? How many friends can we have? Try to apply old ideas to modern concepts of friendship.

Are You For Real!? Meditations On First Philosophy - René Descartes

How do I know if I’m real? Are my senses fooling me? Am I dreaming or am I really riding this ostrich on top of the White House? Join us as we dig into René Descartes’ Meditations about what truly exists and what is suspect to doubt.

The Tuttle Twins - a child's foundation of freedom

Related Articles

  • 20 Fun Lessons In Philosophy
  • 3 Classics: Philosophy Lessons For Kids
  • How Should The Story End?
  • Can Two People Be Right In An Argument?
  • What Is Our Moral Obligation To Those In Extreme Poverty?
  • Could Kids Create Rules For A New Society?
  • Is There Free Will To Change Who You Are?

Books By Kids

The Shy Pumpkin

Notes From A Princess Expert

Copyright © 2022 · Daily Dish Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in